New Zealand’s only castle continues to remain one of Dunedin’s highest ranked tourist attractions. The extensive and expansive property holds a commanding position on the peninsula and as impressive as it is during the day, it is equally as spooky at night. Here are some facts to get you thinking: Land for the Castle was purchased in 1870 with construction starting in 1871. The original Castle was completed in 1874 with additions continuing until 1887. It took more than 200 workmen over three years to build the outer shell of Larnach’s Castle. It took master craftsmen from Europe 12 years to complete the interior of the castle. Materials used to build the castle include marble from Italy, slate from Wales, glass from Venice and native wood from around New Zealand including kauri, rimu and honeysuckle. When finished the Castle had 43 rooms and required a staff of 46 servants. The Ballroom built in 1885 is 3,000 square foot. In 1906 The Castle was used as a hospital for mental patients (an overflow of patients from Seacliff Lunatic Asylum) and shell-shocked soldiers. The Baker family (current owners) have owned the Castle since 1962. There have been numerous reports of ghosts over the years including an incident that took place in 1994 when Castle of Lies, a play on the Larnach family, premiered in the grand ballroom. The original cost of construction was estimated as being between £100,000 - £150,000 which converted into today's money is somewhere between $600 -$900 million. John's Blog https://blog.caswellimages.com/ The latest print price guide: https://bit.ly/3oLw9OI
What I have always found slightly confusing about Tunnel Beach is that it is there at all. As spectacular and interesting as Tunnel Beach is, it is hard to imagine the Cargill children getting excited by a visit. Let me explain. Tunnel Beach was commissioned to be built for John Cargill and his family in the 1870s. This was so that his family could visit a private beach, away from the ‘peeping’ eyes of the general public. To me, this is where the confusion starts to happen. To get to the beach his family would have had to go by either foot, cart or horse alongside the high, steep cliffs, which couldn’t have been a pleasant trip. The beach is shaded by the sun from the steep cliffs and is small and rocky with a small low tide window. Hardly a place you could spend all afternoon at while the kids built sandcastles! So, somehow I can’t imagine the Cargill children leaping with joy when their father would announce they are ‘going to the beach’ for the day. According to Local legend, Tunnel Beach is the scene of a tragic drowning. The story goes that after John Cargill made the private beach for his family, one of his daughters drowned there on her sixteenth birthday at high tide. Overcome with grief, John Cargill was so heartbroken that he left New Zealand and never returned. However, there are no sources to prove this story is true. John's Blog https://fromasmallcity.nz/ The latest print price guide: https://bit.ly/3oLw9OI
On a still, clear evening with lights from the bars and restaurants taking over and a touch of colour in the sky, it’s hard to like the Esplanade. John's Blog https://blog.caswellimages.com/ The latest print price guide: https://bit.ly/3oLw9OI
