The wedding venue at the center of the tragic bus accident boasted of its ‘tranquil natural beauty’ with the venue nestled deep in wine country in NSW.
Wandin Estate Winery, in the Hunter Valley, seemed like the perfect spot for the “fairytale wedding” for Maddy Edsell and Mitch Gaffney on Sunday.
The venue gloated about the handcrafted wines and seasonal local dishes served against the backdrop of the unparalleled and beautiful scenery.
The wedding party left the picturesque venue in high spirits and took a bus back to the local pub-hotel where they had rooms for the night.
Disaster then struck as their coach rolled off the road at 11:30 p.m. at a roundabout 7.5 miles away on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway exit in Greta.
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The tragedy came after the ‘fairytale’ wedding of Maddy Edsell and Mitch Gaffney (pictured), who are from nearby Singleton but originally from Warrandyte in Melbourne’s northeast.
The wedding venue was the spectacular Wandin Estate Winery in the NSW Hunter Valley, which boasts of its ‘tranquil natural beauty’
The bus driver, a 58-year-old man, is currently under arrest at Cessnock police station and police say ‘charges are pending’.
Mrs Edsell and Mr Gaffney lived in nearby Singleton, but were originally from Warrandyte in Melbourne’s northeast.
They moved to the Hunter Valley in 2017, where the couple bought a home together in 2019. Mr. Gaffney works as Coal Quality and Logistics Coordinator at the local mine of Yancoal, 15 miles west of Singleton.
Around 100 guests from across Australia joined them for the wedding ceremony at the Hunter Valley Vineyard, which continued well into the night.
It is believed the guests on the bus were on their way to a local pub-hotel where they had rooms for the night when the accident happened, Australia’s worst accident in 30 years.
The couple had previously left the wedding in a specially restored vintage soft-top VW Beetle that cruised the venue’s cricket oval next to a grove of eucalyptus trees, one of three areas set aside at the winery for weddings.
“As with our handcrafted wines, creating a perfect wedding is all about the details, and it’s in our DNA,” says the winery’s website.
‘Your special day at Wandin will be the perfect blend of Hunter beauty, fragrant environments, seasonal local cuisine, the finest wines and all the intricate and intimate details only found when hosting a wedding at our unparalleled Lovedale estate. ‘
It also offers a location on their wooden pontoon overlooking the vineyard’s dam where the ceremony can also be set up, which also features a chandelier-adorned shed.
“No matter which location you choose, you’ll be saying your vows in the rustic, enigmatic charm that is Wandin’s Hunter Valley wine country,” their website adds.
Guests enjoyed the reception in the lavish Cricketers’ Pavilion overlooking the nearby vines used in the winery’s signature shiraz, chardonnay and semillon wines.
At least 10 people were killed and 25 injured when the coach rolled off the road at a roundabout 12 km away on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway exit in Greta
Guests enjoyed the reception in the opulent Cricketers’ Pavilion overlooking the vines growing nearby, used in the winery’s signature shiraz and chardonnay
After the three-course gourmet meal, the reception continued with guests moving to the porch dance floor where they could dance under the stars
The venue’s cricket oval sits next to a grove of eucalyptus trees, one of three areas set aside at the winery for weddings
The wedding party can also stay in their own luxury villas on the winery grounds, offering personalized hampers, wine tastings and bespoke thank you packages for family, bridesmaids and ushers.
“It’s those little bespoke extras that are truly your special moments — distinctive, unique, breathtaking, elegant,” the vineyard promises.
After the three-course gourmet meal, the reception continued with guests moving to the porch dance floor where they could dance under the stars.
Monday location was closed “out of respect” and staff would provide support to “guests who need our help” in the aftermath of the horror accident.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the overnight bus accident that left some of our guests dead,” the spokesperson said.
“Our sincere condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims and we support them in every way we can.”
The bus driver, a 58-year-old man, was taken to hospital under police guard for an examination. He is currently under arrest at Cessnock police station and police say charges will be pending.
The winery’s vines provide a spectacular backdrop for ceremonies, as pictured here.
The estate features manicured gardens and old oak barrels dotted around the site
The wedding party can also stay in their own luxury villas on the winery, offering personalized baskets and bespoke thank you packages for family, bridesmaids and ushers
Police said 11 passengers had to be airlifted or taken to hospital by ambulance, while 25 others were taken to hospital with varying injuries following one of Australia’s deadliest road accidents in decades.
They were initially rushed to John Hunter Hospital, but many have now been flown to Sydney for further care.
It is feared there are more dead and still trapped under the wreckage as the salvage operation continues. According to police, there were no children on board.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a statement from Parliament House on Monday morning, describing the tragedy as “so cruel and unfair.”
“We all know the joy of going to a wedding, a chance to celebrate dear friends and family. They are some of the happiest times you can have.
It is so cruel, so sad and so unfair that such a joyful day ends in such a beautiful place with such a terrible loss of life and injury,” he said.
“People rent a bus for weddings to keep their guests safe and that just makes this tragedy more unimaginable.”
Locals of the “close-knit community” are among the victims, confirmed the region’s federal MP Daniel Repacholi.
Mr Albanese said: ‘The mental scars of this will not go away. They are there forever.
“When the spotlight goes away, the care doesn’t go away, for people who have lived through this and for people who have experienced this tragedy firsthand.”
The bride arrived at the ceremony in a restored 1952 Beetle convertible that her father had worked on to get it ready in time for the wedding
Investigators remain at the scene of the horror crash