Luggate’s Eldest resident is Mrs Ruth Eden aged 83 years.
In England in 1930 Ruth’s parents were nominated by Eric Jones who ran pack horses from Makarora to the West Coast. There was a world recession and Ruth’s father had a job working on the road until he had an accident with his knee.
Her mother became very homesick so the family returned to England in 1937. However England wasn’t the same as she remembered so the family up stumps and moved back to New Zealand. By this time Ruth had met and married Roy Eden in 1945 and in 1947 they returned to New Zealand initially to Pembroke as Wanaka was known in those days. Roy then had a job with the Central Otago Power Board and the family stayed at the Roaring Meg Power Station for 3 years living in a caravan. With two small girls Ruth said it was absolutely dreadful being very cold and with very primitive cooking facilities.
There appeared to be an opening for a shop in Luggate so moving here in 1958 Ruth and Roy built and opened a small shop (a bit like a corner dairy) for a start in 1960. When the pub changed from a hotel to a tavern they built on a dining room.
The shop was called “The Tea Rose”. They were very busy years as Roy who was working for Upper Clutha Transport had started up a milk run, servicing up Wanaka Road from Cromwell, Hawea, Wanaka, Albert town and of course Luggate. During the summer they could have up to three vehicles on the road during the busy times and also serviced the Glendhu camp over the summer months.
Ruth ran the shop which was an extremely busy place with workmen from Upper Clutha Transport, Game Packers and the Sawmill coming in for a cooked meal at lunch time. Workmen working on the Haast road were also catered for and Ruth could be supplying meals at all hours of the day or night. There was a choice of a hot or cold meal followed by a dessert all for the princely sum of $1 and there could be 30 to 40 people every day for lunch.
Once the Haast road was opened up to 8 buses a day would stop for morning and afternoon tea. They would radio ahead from Hawea so there was time to make sandwiches and heat pies. Also once the road was opened milk and groceries were supplied and sent to Haast on the bus. Around Christmas when the camping ground was full people had to book for meals as often there would be two sittings of around 30 people.
The local farmers would often supply morning and afternoon tea plus a cold lunch for their shearers but Ruth would do the cooked breakfast and main meal at night for the gangs.
Wedding receptions were also catered for.
All of this plus looking after four children aged 4 through to 12 years. Phew!!!
Ruth and Roy opened “The Tea Rose” in 1960 and sold it 12 years later to Christine and Ray Sangster in 1972.
After going through seveal owners the "Diner" burned down in June 1998.
Although it was hard work Luggate had a great community spirit and Ruth remembers Christmas parties in the hall and Country Women’s Institute concerts. Everyone pitched in and helped each other.
When asked what Ruth likes best about Luggate she said it was a very friendly place, was a great place to bring up kids, the weather was warmer than Wanaka and wasn’t over run with traffic “A good jumping off place” “I have no intention of moving" "They’ll have to carry me out”
