Bellevue Wetlands Reserve

bellview wetlands reserve

Somewhere, somehow, Stevie Robertson must have been able to get his hands on a crystal ball. It's the only way to explain how one man had the foresight to turn 6ha of dumping ground and rough paddocks into five lakes (covering 2ha alone), boardwalks, walking paths and native planting, right alongside the yet-to-be conceived Clutha Gold Trail. It's an achievement that has been 18 years in the making; however, don't call it that in front of Stevie. He's incredibly modest and will flatly refuse any credit for the beautiful kilometre-long strip that leads riders into Lawrence. It's all down to the kids, he says. Local school children have planted 20,500 trees on Stevie's land (now known as Bellview Wetlands Reserve), and their efforts have won them several local awards. But the heart and soul of this land is all Stevie. He was born and raised 5km down the road, part of a farming family that has been in the area for four or five generations. His stock is of a different kind, ducks, geese, kōura, freshwater mussels, frogs and Slimy, the eel. His land is teeming with wildlife and the lakes he dug are home to several rare native species. “This project was a reaction to having cancer. I decided it was time to do what I wanted. It may never make a dollar, but I'm not bothered, it's not why I'm here.”

He's a man who keeps busy. In between crafting intricate rock walls (“I just picked up some rocks”) and avoiding all forms of modern technology, Stevie has restored a late 1800s mining town, complete with a school, cottage, running waterwheel and gold mine. With a helping hand from the Tuapeka Vintage Club next door, it has been rescued, restored and pieced together by any means necessary (the less said about that, the better). Again, it's staggering, but for Stevie, it was just a great family project. His mum helped find everything – some are her toys, and his great grandmother made the crochet blanket. Though they're right next to the main road, the wetlands are private land so don't just wander in. He has plans for group tours and opening it to the public, but for now, it's best to contact the Tuapeka Vintage Club and see if they can track Stevie down. The other option is to order a picnic basket from The Lawrence Mint – Alisa has an agreement with Stevie so picnickers can enjoy their feast next to the lakes.

The Tuapeka Vintage Club

To see what Stevie and others around the region do in their spare time, plan a visit to Lawrence for Sunday between 1-4 pm. That's when the Tuapeka Vintage Club opens their enormous shed to the public to share their collections, tinkerings, projects and passion. Stevie's contribution is a wall of about 140 vintage radios, many of which are in perfect working order. Again, this collection is all about the kids – have a look at his homemade radio booster.

The shed is a treasure trove of stuff – there's a replica shearing station, tools, trucks, tractors and more. The goal of the club is to protect the region's mechanical history, and they've done that and more. There are a few engines here that are probably working better than they ever did initially. The 100-year-old AC Sociable is of particular note – the two-seater's horn is particularly charming. Gabriels Gully Road, Lawrence. (03) 485 9652 (club president Roger Anderson).

Stevie Robertson