Neuchatel

Neuchatel Estate is located in Neboda, 50Km from Colombo and bordering the Kalu Gaga River. The Estate covers an area of 902 hectares (2225 acres). Neuchatel Estate’s factory is equipped with modern rubber mills and tanks for producing high quality crepe rubber. Equipped with two lofts for natural drying and two lofts for quick drying using a burner system, the factory has a total production capacity of 400,000Kg of crepe rubber per year.

The early history of Neuchatel can be traced back to Colin Cowper Mee. Born in England in 1867, he had his initial education at Rugby Circa and then at Neuchatel Switzerland. When he journeyed to Ceylon and began a plantation in the Kalutara district, he named the estate after his alma mater in Switzerland. Colin Cowper Mee was a generous supporter of the Ceylon Turf Club and also a prominent member of the Ceylon Planters Association. Following his death in 1909, the estate passed on in equal share to his two sisters and brother. As with other large estates, in 1975 the Neuchatel was taken over by the Government. In 1992 the Estate ownership was taken over by Horana Plantations PLC.