Almost 40 years after it first opened its doors, the popular Peggydale complex is up for sale.
One of the earliest tourism ventures in South Otago to cater for international visitors, the cafe, function centre and shop has been operating since 1975 when it was founded by Bill Jones and his wife Peggy.
Following Jones's death in 1997 at the age of 75, son Mervyn and his wife Alison, who were already working in the business, took over the reins.
But with the couple now looking forward to semi-retirement and none of their children keen to continue in the family business, it had been placed on the market.Mervyn Jones said they had been thinking about selling Peggydale for a few years.
The couple were keen to pursue other interests, that had been ''put on hold for too long'', he said.
He has been part of the business since his father first started it.
Bill Jones was a coal miner at Kaitangata during the 1950s when a ceiling beam collapsed on him and left him paralysed from the waist down at the age of 28.
Given about two years to live, he spent two years in recovery at Dunedin Hospital where he shared a ward with a saddle maker who taught him about leatherwork.
Alive, but in a wheelchair, Jones was awarded a compensation payout which he used to buy a farm in Kaitangata.
While there he turned his leather crafting skills to making schoolbags, toys and belts in a farm shed.
As the business grew, the Bill and Peggy sold the farm and opened Peggydale Leathercraft.
Always situated on State Highway 1 just south of Balclutha, during the years, it has expanded to include a cafe which evolved into a full restaurant, and a leather goods display which turned into a clothing store and large souvenir outlet specialising in New Zealand made merino products.
Now open seven days a week - including Christmas day - it hosts busloads of tourists each year.
As for Mervyn Jones, he believed it was time to let someone with new drive and enthusiasm navigate the business's future.
''After a lifetime at Peggydale .th.th. I'll be sad to go, but I guess that's life and sometimes you have to say enough is enough.''
Both he and Alison agreed it would be the people they would miss the most.
''Having people from overseas telling you every day what a wonderful country we live in,'' Jones said.
He recounted the story of a 91-year-old American who came to New Zealand to fish every year, and for the past 27 years had always stopped to buy gifts to take home from Peggydale.
The 9.93 hectare block, buildings and business were being marketed for sale by negotiation through Bayleys Dunedin.
Salesperson Miles Rapley said Peggydale's ''bread and butter'' was its tourists, but there was potential to turn the business into a function venue and bed and breakfast.