A warm sunny day and the setting of a magnificent old homestead in beautiful grounds, provided a memorable venue for the Hawke’s Bay Founders’ end-of-year luncheon for 2016.

Founders members travelled by bus to the Gwavas Garden Homestead near Tikokino in central Hawke’s Bay for their Christmas lunch. Host, Stuart Gibson, then spoke of the history of the homestead and station and invited his guests to look through some of the rooms of this delightful property. This was followed by afternoon tea with Christmas cake, on the lawn.

Gwavas is one of Hawke’s Bay’s most notable historic homes. Originally built in 1890 as the homestead for Gwavas Station, it is now run as a bed and breakfast, weddings venue and centre for various functions.  Phyllida Gibson is a descendant of the Station’s founders, the Carlyon family of Cornwall, England. Another of the Carlyon descendants still manage the Carlyon estate in Cornwall, and have done so since the 1500s.