Located in Marlborough is a charming business titled Middlehurst Station and at every corner of this business the Macdonalds run the show.

It does everything.

Middlehurst Station produces merino wool, is a beef butchery, cafe and also a luxury destination accommodation for tourists.

But in order to do everything, the business needs people to run it, and who better than the entire family.

“It is a true family business,” says Lucy Macdonald, daughter of lifelong farmers and owners of Middlehurst Station, Willie and Susan Macdonald.

What started as just a farm, has evolved into a number of different facets which Willie Macdonald says was how the business was able to come out of the multiple economic downturns Middlehurst has faced.

“There’s a reason most farmers stick to farming, but we’ve diversified to keep this as a viable business and lifestyle,” he says.

Expanding seemed right for Middlehurst. Lucy says that they decided to be innovative in a traditional industry and though it hasn’t been an easy task, diversifying has led to the business having more avenues to share its story.

Middlehurst first expanded its offering in 2020 when it tapped into online meat delivery service where it arrives on doorsteps overnight.

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The family wanted to make higher quality meat accessible and convenient for Kiwis.

Then in 2023, the family opened up the Middlehurst Station Farm Store, where they wanted to delve into in-person experiences of the farm but in a more accessible way.

And for Lucy, this is her favourite offering because of the nature of connecting directly with customers.

When asked if she butts heads with her sisters who are also in the business, Lucy says they actually work well together, the secret to how Middlehurst has thrived since the 1990’s.

“We’re all super hands-on, which can sometimes make it challenging when you need to get above being hands-on, you actually have to look down into your business and see what you’re doing. So, for us, sometimes we do find it hard to take a step back,” she says.

“It can be so rewarding, but the hard times can also be super hard because everyone’s involved in it, so everyone wears the weights on their shoulders as well. So, it’s all about trying to balance that and everyone in the business knows what role they’re playing, so everyone kind of just sticks to their roles.”

For Lucy, who has grown up on the farm, she says everyone is on the journey together and share the same vision and end goals, so they have to make it work.

And for those who are curious, they don’t talk about work during family dinners unless something really cool or exciting happened for the business.

Heading forward, though the farm has been around since the 90s, the new era of the business is just beginning.

Middlehurst is only going to continue innovating in the space whilst striving to be the best sustainable farming business it can be.