On March 20th, which was supposed to be an ordinary Wednesday, residents of the town of Oamaru in the South Island of New Zealand dressed up and eagerly awaited the arrival of a train.
The RM-31 Railcar train from 1938 made its first appearance at the Oamaru train station, and many locals, adorned in Victorian-era attire, gathered to take photos with the historic train.
Among the crowd at the train station, one Chinese family stood out. They were not tourists but the current owners of the Oamaru train station.
Last year, they purchased the abandoned train station and renovated it, revitalizing the old building into a community center for the town.
Why would this Chinese family buy a train station in New Zealand? And how did they go about revitalizing this abandoned station? DiscoverJun interviewed this Chinese family and heard Tina, the homeowner, recount the story of "Chinese at a Century-Old Train Station in New Zealand."
01 "A New Collection" for Vintage Enthusiasts
Tina's family originally lived in Christchurch, where they ran some retail businesses.
Her husband, Jared, is a vintage enthusiast who enjoys collecting old items. In 2023, they stumbled upon news of the Oamaru train station being put up for sale.
Jared was immediately captivated. Built in 1900, the Oamaru train station has a history of 123 years and was listed as a heritage site in New Zealand in 1986.
It was once an important hub in the central part of the South Island, serving as a significant station for over a century. However, with the increase in transportation options, only freight trains pass through nowadays.
The station had been abandoned and fallen into disrepair over the years. But to Jared, who loves collecting vintage items, it was a treasure trove, carrying the memories of generations.
After carefully reading the information about the sale of the train station, they decided to purchase it. However, they initially had no specific plans for its use.
02 A Loving Renovation Process
Although Jared's parents were somewhat worried about their move from the bustling Christchurch to the small town of Oamaru, as Tina said, "Chinese parents are great. Although they had some reservations, they ultimately chose to support their children's decision."
So, in June 2023, the entire family moved to Oamaru for the train station.
Since the station had been abandoned for a long time and was filled with clutter, their first task was to clean and repair it.
This process was not easy. As it was a heritage site, they were careful not to damage the original structure while cleaning.
Once, during the cleaning process, Tina accidentally scratched her face and needed seven stitches. However, not a single member of the family complained about the decision because they were committed to revitalizing the station and continued to work together.
The team involved in the cleanup also grew. Because the locals saw this Chinese family's dedication to preserving cultural heritage, many people spontaneously joined in to help.
03 Revitalizing the Old Station
Years ago, Jared had run a Japanese restaurant in Christchurch, but later moved on to other businesses, leaving the restaurant as a memory.
The restaurant was not only a place to eat but also a space for people to connect and relax.
In the past, the train station connected the local people with the outside world and welcomed visitors from all directions. Now, if turned into a restaurant, it could provide a place for locals to enjoy food, socialize, and provide the family with a livelihood, allowing them more time and energy to maintain the station.
So, the family unanimously decided to open a part of the train station as a restaurant.
In September 2023, Tina's Japanese restaurant opened its doors. The business exceeded her expectations.
"We didn't even advertise, but many locals came to dine. On the opening day, more than 80 people came, and the townspeople were very happy."
Many of the diners were local residents who had a sentimental attachment to the train station. When they heard that the new owners genuinely loved the building, they came to support their business.
Facing the enthusiasm of the locals, Tina's family put a lot of effort into sourcing fresh ingredients and providing excellent service. They used only the freshest ingredients, with salmon being freshly sliced every day.
Tina also remembered the preferences of her customers. One woman in town liked fresh tofu, so whenever they had fresh tofu in stock, Tina would inform her.
04 The Old Station Became the "Heart" of the Town
Because Tina genuinely loved the building and its historical and cultural significance, she always considered how their actions could benefit the local people and continuously found ways to make the place beneficial to residents.
She willingly provided space for local residents to hold events and shared Chinese cuisine with them during the Spring Festival.
This long-dormant train station has now become the town's activity center, providing a space for locals to gather and interact.
"There's a real sense of community here, with pure support and mutual assistance between people. It's a warm and old-fashioned feeling that has returned."
Local residents would volunteer to take promotional photos of the restaurant's food and chat with Tina about their lives.
"One neighbor greets me when he goes fishing, and when he returns in the evening, he brings us a fish."
In an interview with a local newspaper, many residents used the word "respect" to describe Tina's family.
In the late nineteenth century, Oamaru flourished due to gold mining, quarrying, and timber processing.
It's a holy land for vintage culture, and every mid-November, Oamaru hosts the Victorian Heritage Celebrations, one of the grandest and most famous festivals in the South Island and even New Zealand as a whole, lasting for about a week.
The residents here are mostly descendants of immigrants or gold prospectors. Nowadays, more and more young people are leaving the town to seek opportunities in big cities.
Tina's family, who loves vintage culture, has reopened a space in this historic cultural heritage, providing a place for people's nostalgic feelings.
This station is like Platform 9¾ in Harry Potter, not connecting reality with magic, but linking the fast-paced present with the warmth of bygone days.
People come here to experience the past glory in the physical space, feel the pure warmth between people in conversation, enjoy delicious food, admire the scenery, and create beautiful memories.
The Chinese family who bought a train station to turn it into a restaurant.
Opening a restaurant was not the purpose of Tina's family buying this train station. In the increasingly busy days of their business, they chose to "reverse" – reducing their operating hours. Originally, they offered both lunch and dinner, but now they only serve dinner.
"The train station still needs a lot of repairs, and we will continue to spend time on that. The restaurant is just part of our livelihood."
In addition to locals, many tourists also come, and recently, Tina had to hire help to accommodate more diners.
When asked about their current life and future plans, Tina said:
"We didn't plan to stay here permanently, but now we're increasingly enjoying life here. The pure warmth between people is priceless."
The family is still busy, and next, they plan to open up a space to exhibit Jared's collections accumulated over the years.
"We also want to set up a tourist information center to help more people." Tina, who used to work in the tourism industry, said excitedly.
With their sincere efforts, Tina's family has demonstrated the sincerity
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