More than 50 family members, friends, residents and project partners, plus Southland Mayor Frana Cardno, gathered to commemorate John Morris Everness Newman QSM and his 50 years of voluntary conservation work.
The unveiling of the seat and table, at the northern end of the village green in Garston, was held the day before the two-year anniversary of the popular publican and shopkeeper's death at the age of 86.
After eight Garston School children sang a song, Garston Community Development Area chairwoman Pam Naylor welcomed well-wishers, who had travelled from Athol, Kingston, Arrowtown and around New Zealand for the event.
As Frankton resident Peggy Newman (92), Mr Newman's widow, and family members looked on, Mrs Cardno and Southland district councillor John Douglas removed the draped New Zealand flag from the seat.
Three generations of Newmans planted a tree in his honour, near some of the many Wellingtonia trees propagated and donated by Mr Newman.
Mrs Cardno praised Mr Newman's "utter determination" in planting and preserving trees around the region, despite occasional vandalism and thefts.
His son, Richard Newman, said his father was inspired to become an arborist while reading Man Of The Trees, by ecologist Richard St Barbe Baker, while was recovering from tuberculosis in World War 2.
His father was passionate about planting trees, natural history and the Southern Lakes.
He challenged the next generation to continue his father's legacy.
Mrs Newman told the Otago Daily Times she proudly supported her husband in his tree projects in Mataura, Gore, Parawa, Athol, Garston, Kingston, along Kingston Rd and Arrowtown.
