Larnach Castle, near Dunedin on Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
Larnach Castle was built as the private residence of William James Mudie Larnach.
Land for the construction of Larnach Castle was purchased in 1870, and prominent Dunedin architect Robert Arthur Lawson was selected to design the Gothic Revival mansion. Construction began in 1871.
Materials for the building came from around the world, as well as New Zealand. Twenty tonne of glass was imported from Venice to enclose exposed verandahs that were unsuitable for Dunedin winters.
A 3000 square foot was added (separate to the main house) in 1887. It was a twenty-first birthday gift for Larnach’s eldest daughter.
When finished the whole contained 43 rooms and required a staff of 46 servants. The complex included grounds of 35 acres, a home farm of 300 acres with farmstead, stables and quarters for farm workers.
William Larnach called his home “The Camp” – it was dubbed The Castle (and later Larnach’s Castle) by the local press.
After William Larnach died in 1898, his “Camp” stayed in the family for a short time and subsequently changed hands several times. It was empty and in need of much repair when the Barker family purchased the Castle in 1967.
Larnach Castle, near Dunedin on Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
Larnach Castle was built as the private residence of William James Mudie Larnach.
Land for the construction of Larnach Castle was purchased in 1870, and prominent Dunedin architect Robert Arthur Lawson was selected to design the Gothic Revival mansion. Construction began in 1871.
Materials for the building came from around the world, as well as New Zealand. Twenty tonne of glass was imported from Venice to enclose exposed verandahs that were unsuitable for Dunedin winters.
A 3000 square foot was added (separate to the main house) in 1887. It was a twenty-first birthday gift for Larnach’s eldest daughter.
When finished the whole contained 43 rooms and required a staff of 46 servants. The complex included grounds of 35 acres, a home farm of 300 acres with farmstead, stables and quarters for farm workers.
William Larnach called his home “The Camp” – it was dubbed The Castle (and later Larnach’s Castle) by the local press.
After William Larnach died in 1898, his “Camp” stayed in the family for a short time and subsequently changed hands several times. It was empty and in need of much repair when the Barker family purchased the Castle in 1967.