Starborough Story

Starborough was the second sheep run established on the south side of the Awatere River in 1849. At one stage the property covered an area of 35,000 acres and included the land now occupied by the Seddon township.

A very productive sheep farm, Starborough produced not only top quality fine merino wool but also some of the best prime lambs within the region. Due to poor wool returns which was compounded by the arrival of rabbits, there was much adversity for the early run owners of Starborough. However, the pioneering spirit of those early settlers endured the hardship and helped shape the Marlborough region for the generations to come.

In 1898 the New Zealand Government purchased Starborough and arranged for it to be surveyed, subdivided and balloted for closer settlement. This survey resulted in the formation of forty six farms, four small grazing runs and the township of Seddon. The Seddon railway station stands on the site of the former Starborough woolshed.

Bill and Lynette Jones who already owned and farmed O’Dwyers Farm in the Wairau Valley, purchased the Starborough homestead block in 1992. The property consists of 637 acres (255 ha) and includes the original homestead featured on the Starborough wine label.

With the introduction of irrigation and modern farming techniques Starborough has become a diverse and productive property, producing not only premium wine grapes but also a wide range of specialist seed and process vegetable crops.