Servings of haggis and sounds of a pipe band made the Robert Bruce Commemoration on Sunday "very Scottish".
Near one hundred people, travelling from as far as Wellington and Hawkes Bay, gathered at the Bruce Memorial Reserve on Turakina Valley Road to remember a "legend beyond his time".
Born in Kelso, Scotland Mr Bruce went to sea at the age of 14 and after becoming a seafarer, gold prospector, author and orator he purchased land in the Turakina Valley. He farmed at Ngaruru from 1877 until his death.
After his death, Mr Bruce left his estate to help fund the reforestation and maintenance of New Zealand domains and national parks.
Event organiser Roslyn Grant said the afternoon went really well and they were blessed with the weather.
"We walked up to the reserve with the Rangitiki Scottish pipe band playing and lots of people carried on up to visit his memorial and his grave.
"We had the laying of reef by Rangitikei conservationist Hugh Stewart and a handful of people spoke on Robert Bruce's extraordinary work," Ms Grant said.
Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall, who attended, said it was the first time he had ventured to that part of the world, being the far end of the Turakina valley.
"It was absolutely fantastic to celebrate a remarkable man whose legacy has been remembered throughout New Zealand. The Bruce Road up to Whakapapa is named after him.
"I didn't know very much about him before yesterday which made it really exciting for me to attend. He led many life's achieving all that he did," Mr McDouall said.
In his will Mr Bruce also donated money to the Whanganui Hospital, the Whanganui Museum, the Porirua Mental Health Hospital, Iona Girls College, Indian Missionaries Presbyterian church and the Hunterville Domain.
Ms Grant said in his will Mr Bruce left 500 pounds to Iona Collage and the reason why was still unknown.
"Three old girls from Iona College attended the commemoration on Sunday. We are unsure of the significance he had with the school. We know the school opened in 1914 and were asking for donations and he passed in 1917," Ms Grant said.
"From what was said in his eulogies he was obviously a really significant member of his community," Mr McDouall said.