degustation
Heather Turnbull and Olivia Doonan – The Station Owners
interactions whether it be mums with their
little ones catching up with friends over a
coffee and a scone to the locals and visitors
coming down to enjoy our friendly faces and
enjoy our choices of tasty food or even grab a
takeaway treat to enjoy at our local beach or
walking amongst the tussocks.
We love this area, for us both it is where we
choose to raise our tamariki. It is an area that
what you put in, is what you get out.
The Station is not just about feeding hungry
locals and travelers.
The original waiting room will be used as a
free space for local community groups to
meet up, or for businesses to hire, Olivia says.
“A big part of what we’re doing is around the
community, it can be quite isolating for people
living out here.
“The earthquakes damaged quite a few
buildings in Seddon so there is a real need for
common areas where people can meet and
connect.”
The original ticket room will become a cellar
door, showcaseing Tupari’s multi-award
winning, artisan wines. Renown local
winemaker Glenn Thomas and the Turnbull
family started Tupari Wines in 2004. “The
Awatere Valley is celebrated for it’s beautiful
wines, so now we will have something
Awatere on show for those passing through
on SH1!”
Outside, the grounds located between the
train tracks and SH1 are already showing
signs of this project’s community spirit.
Three years ago, the Awatere Valley Trust
planted the area with native plants, partially
supported by the Marlborough District
Council Tui to Town project, to beautify
Seddon and create a welcoming space.
Three years since the initial plantings
the path, which winds through the well
established natives down to the Starborough
River bridge underpass leading to the Seddon
Domain, is a beautiful, tranquil space for
people to stretch their legs, rest and reflect.
“This is just the start of something that
we hope to continue to grow our vibrant
community, create opportunities and turn
Seddon into a destination,” Olivia says.
“We live in a great little spot, we have lots of
hopes for the future.”
The Station Grand Re-Opening
on Sunday April 14th will provide
quite a show! The Marlborough Flyer
will make its debut in the Awatere
valley at 1:05. 300 lucky locals will
spend 50 minutes in Seddon where
Mayor John Leggett will preform a
ribbon cutting ceremony. Local market
stalls will open from 12-3pm and a
bouncy castle will entertain the kids.
From 3-8pm Kate and Koko welcome
guests to enjoy a responsible drink,
with nibbles provided. The Station
has aligned itself with the Shaking
Change for Good fundraiser- looking
to replace South Marlborough’s early
childhood services that were
lost and damaged in the
2016 earthquake. Our tight
knit community is rebuilding
and re-opening, please
come to celebrate with us.
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