A small town at the end of the road bustled at the weekend as hotel patrons celebrated like it was 1886.
About 150 people packed the Patearoa Hotel on Saturday to celebrate its 130th year.
Locals and out-of-towners dressed a little country for the western-themed night, some of them trying their luck on a mechanical bull that was stationed outside.
Publican Sammy Hawea said it was the biggest night she had seen at the pub since she began working there.
"There were three or four of us behind the bar and it was non-stop.''
Some families in the town had been going to the hotel for generations, she said.
"I didn't realise how much the history of this place meant to the locals.''
She and her partner, Dan Parker, began managing the hotel in December after living in Dunedin.
"He had always wanted to run a pub, so we had a yarn to the owner.''
When they started in summer it was "crazy'' due to holiday-makers, she said.
"We really got chucked in the deep end. I was told it would be busy, but I didn't realise how busy.''
Business was steady at this time of year, she said.
"We get contractors in the hotel, and a lot of hunters, especially for duck shooting.
"The lease ends in September next year, so we'll see how things go.
"But for now we're loving it.''
Finding western-themed decorations for the celebration was not difficult, Ms Hawea said.
"Most of the locals had hay bales.''
Named the Sowburn Hotel, it was first built in 1886.
In 1927 the building caught fire and while some items were saved, it was destroyed due to a lack of water and no local fire brigade.
It was rebuilt later that year and has stayed on the site since.
