Larnach Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Larnach Castle |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Location | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Construction started | 1871 |
| Completed | 1874 (additions until 1887) |
| Owner | Barker Family |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | R. A. Lawson |
| Designations | Garden of International Significance Qualmark Endorsed Activity |
| Known for | Tourism Destination |
Larnach Castle is a large, castle-like house located on the Otago Peninsula in Dunedin, New Zealand. It's often called "New Zealand's only castle." This amazing building was once the home of William Larnach, a well-known businessman and politician.
Since 1967, the Barker family has owned the castle. They have opened it up for visitors to explore. The castle and its beautiful gardens are open every day. The gardens are so special that they have been named a "Garden of International Significance." This means they are recognized as one of the best gardens in the world! In 2018, Larnach Castle was also named a New Zealand Landmark, showing how important it is to the country's history.
Contents
The Castle's Story
Building a Dream Home
Larnach Castle was built as the private home for William Larnach. He bought the land in 1870. A famous architect from Dunedin, R.A. Lawson, was chosen to design the house. It was built in the Gothic Revival style, which means it looked like old medieval castles and cathedrals.
Construction began in 1871. About 200 workers helped build the main part of the castle. They used materials from all over the world. Stone for the castle came from a nearby quarry. Other materials included special bricks from Glasgow, stone from Oamaru, and marble from Italy. Wood from New Zealand's Catlins and North Island Kauri forests was also used.
The Godfrey family carved many of the detailed ceilings inside the castle. One ceiling in the main entrance hall took six and a half years to finish! In 1875, glass from Venice was brought in to cover the open porches. This made them more comfortable for Dunedin's cold winters.
A large ballroom was added in 1887. This was a special 21st birthday gift for Larnach's oldest daughter, Kate. The castle eventually had 43 rooms. It needed 46 servants to help run it! The property also included 35 acres of gardens and a 300-acre farm.
Home Life for the Larnach Family
William Larnach simply called his home "The Camp." But local newspapers started calling it a "castle" in 1874. This was just a few days after William and his wife, Eliza, moved in. After William passed away in 1898, his family sold the house in 1906.
Is it Haunted?
Larnach Castle has a reputation for being one of New Zealand's most haunted places. Some people say they have seen the ghost of a bearded Victorian gentleman. Others report smelling cigar smoke or port wine in empty rooms. Visitors and workers have even felt like someone suddenly pushed them. These stories have brought ghost hunters from New Zealand and other countries to the castle. It has even been featured on TV shows about paranormal investigations.
Larnach Castle Today
Bringing the Castle Back to Life
Over the years, Larnach Castle had many different owners. The building slowly started to fall apart. But in 1967, Barry and Margaret Barker bought it. Their son, Norcombe Barker, became the Executive Director in 1990.
The Barker family has done a lot of work to restore the castle. They have also found many of the original pieces of furniture to put back in the house. The beautiful gardens were not part of William Larnach's original home. They were created by the Barker family and have won awards. Keeping the castle in good condition is a continuous job. For example, in 2015, the music room alone cost $100,000 to fix up.
Visiting the Castle
Larnach Castle is a very popular place for tourists in Dunedin. About 120,000 people visit it each year. The castle is open every day of the year. Visitors can take guided tours or explore on their own. The castle also hosts special events, like its yearly Winter Ball.
Larnach Castle Ltd offers different places to stay. You can stay at the Larnach Castle Stables, Larnach Castle Lodge, or the fancy Camp Estate nearby. Guests who stay overnight can also enjoy dinner inside the castle itself.
Castle on Screen
Larnach Castle has been used as a filming location for several movies and TV shows:
- In 1985, it was used for the TVNZ show Hanlon.
- The same year, it appeared in the movie Shaker Run.
- In 1994, a play called Castle of Lies was performed in the castle's ballroom. This play was about the Larnach family.
- Larnach Castle and the Camp Estate were used in the 2022 Netflix movie, The Royal Treatment. They pretended to be the home of a royal family from a made-up country.
- The castle has also been featured on TV shows about paranormal investigators. These include New Zealand shows like Ghost Hunt and Spookers, and the American show Ghost Hunters International.
Images for kids
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Larnach Castle Logo
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Larnach Castle and fountain
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Larnach para niños
