Chinese family Buy a New Zealand Railway Station, "It's Not for Profit"
Staff Writer: Yima
Image Source: Supplied
On March 20th, what seemed like an ordinary Wednesday turned into a day of excitement in the small town of Oamaru on New Zealand’s South Island, as residents dressed in their finest to welcome the arrival of a train.
The 1938 RM-31 Railcar made its first visit to Oamaru Station, and many townspeople, dressed in Victorian-era costumes, gathered at the station to take pictures with the train and celebrate the occasion.
Among the crowd, a Chinese family stood out as they bustled around, preparing for this grand event and blending seamlessly with the local residents.
But this Chinese family weren’t tourists. They are now the owners of the Oamaru railway station. In 2023, they bought this abandoned station, revitalized the old building, and transformed it into the town's new community hub.
Why did this Chinese family decide to purchase a railway station in New Zealand?
And how did they breathe new life into the abandoned station?
Curious to find out, we interviewed this Chinese family, and listened to Tina, the mother, share the story of their "Hundred-Year-Old Railway Station in New Zealand."
A New “Vintage” Addition for Retro Culture Enthusiasts
Tina’s family originally lived in Christchurch, where they ran a retail business.
Her husband, Jared, is a vintage enthusiast who loves collecting old objects. In 2023, by chance, they came across news that the Oamaru railway station was for sale.
When Jared saw it, he was thrilled. Oamaru Station was built in 1900 and has a history of 123 years. In 1986, it was listed as a New Zealand heritage site.
It used to be one of the key stations in the central South Island, serving as an important local hub for over a hundred years. Today, with modern transportation options, only freight trains pass through.
The station had fallen into disrepair, becoming messy and run-down.
But to Jared, a lover of all things vintage, it was a treasure—a historical relic carrying the memories of several generations.
After carefully reading through the sale information, the family decided to purchase the station.
Initially, they weren’t sure what they would do with it.
A Loving Restoration Process
Although Jared's parents were concerned about moving from the bustling Chinese community in Christchurch to the small town of Oamaru, as Tina said, "Chinese parents are truly great. Despite their worries, they ultimately choose to support their children's decisions."
So, in June 2023, the whole family moved to Oamaru for the sake of the station.
Since the station had been abandoned for a long time, there was a lot of clutter to clear out and repairs to make.
The family’s first task was to clean up and restore the space.
The process wasn’t easy. Because the station was a heritage building, they didn’t want to damage its original structure or appearance, so they were extra careful in their work.
Once, while clearing out debris, Tina accidentally cut her face and needed seven stitches.
Despite the challenges, no one in the family complained. They were determined to restore the station’s significance and worked together toward this goal.
The cleanup crew grew as well. Local residents saw the family's efforts and admired their dedication. They appreciated that a Chinese family had come to the town and was actively restoring a cultural heritage site. Many locals voluntarily joined in to help.
Breathing New Life into the Old Station
Over a decade ago, Jared had opened a Japanese restaurant in Christchurch, but after switching to other businesses, the restaurant became a memory.
A restaurant is not only a place to satisfy hunger but also a space for people to connect and relax.
The station used to connect locals with the outside world, welcoming visitors from all directions. Now, if they turned part of the station into a restaurant, it could provide locals with a place to enjoy food and conversation, while also giving the family a livelihood and more time to maintain the station.
The family quickly agreed and decided to convert part of the station into a restaurant.
In September 2023, Tina’s Japanese restaurant opened its doors. Business exceeded her expectations.
“We didn’t do any advertising, but many locals came to eat. On the opening day, over 80 people showed up. The whole town was happy.”
Many of the diners were local residents who felt a deep connection to the station. They came to support the family’s business, knowing they were there because they genuinely loved the building.
In response to the town’s enthusiasm, Tina’s family put great effort into sourcing fresh ingredients and offering excellent service. They bought fresh salmon every day and prepared it to order.
She also paid attention to customers' preferences. One woman in town loved fresh tofu, so whenever the restaurant purchased fresh tofu, Tina would personally let her know.
The Station Becomes the “Heart of the Town”
Tina's love for the building and the history behind it motivated her to think first about how the station could benefit the locals. She constantly looked for ways to make the space useful to the community.
She offered the venue for local events and shared Chinese cuisine with everyone during the Chinese New Year.
The once-silent station is now the town’s activity center, providing locals with a place to gather and connect.
“There’s a real sense of community here. The pure support and mutual help between people feels so old-fashioned and warm.”
Locals even volunteered to take promotional photos for the restaurant and shared stories from their lives with Tina.
“One neighbor greets me when he goes fishing, and when he returns in the evening, he brings us a fish.”
In a local newspaper interview, many residents used the word “respect” to describe Tina and her family.
In the late 19th century, Oamaru thrived due to gold mining, quarrying, and timber processing.
It is now a haven for vintage culture. Every mid-November, Oamaru hosts the Victorian Heritage Festival, one of the largest and most famous events in the South Island and all of New Zealand, lasting about a week.
The residents here are mostly descendants of immigrants or gold miners, but nowadays, more and more young people are leaving the town for bigger cities.
Tina’s family, who loves vintage culture, has carved out a new space in this heritage site rich with history, providing a place where people’s nostalgic emotions can find a home.
This station is like the 9 ¾ platform in Harry Potter, but instead of connecting reality with magic, it links the fast-paced present with the warmth of old times.
People come here, experiencing the prosperity of the past through the physical space, feeling the simple warmth between people in their conversations, enjoying delicious food, beautiful scenery, and creating wonderful memories.
More Possibilities for the Future
Running the restaurant wasn’t the family's primary goal in purchasing the station. As business grew more successful, they made an unusual decision: to reduce their hours. Originally, they offered both lunch and dinner, but now they only serve dinner.
“There’s still a lot of restoration work to do on the station. We’ll continue to dedicate time to that. The restaurant is just one part of our lives.”
In addition to locals, many tourists have come to visit. Tina recently had to hire extra help to ensure more diners had a worthwhile experience.
Talking about their current life and future plans, Tina said, "At first, we didn’t plan to stay here long-term, but now we love the lifestyle more and more. The love between people is something money can’t buy.”
The family is still busy. Next, they plan to open a space to display Jared’s collection of vintage items.
“We’re also thinking of creating a tourist information center to help more people,” Tina, who used to work in the tourism industry, said with excitement.
Through their heartfelt efforts, Tina’s family has shown the sincerity and diligence of Chinese immigrants, earning the respect and support of the local community. Their story of love continues to unfold…
