TOHU WHENUA

TOHU WHENUA Behind the Walls: 150 years of Larnach Castle

Tohu Whenua writer, Claudia Babirat, takes us behind the scenes at Aotearoa New Zealand's most well-known castle, where at one point the ballroom was being used as a sheep pen.

WORDS: Claudia Babirat IMAGES: DunedinNZ, Chris Stephenson

Perched high on Otago Peninsula, Larnach Castle has everything you'd expect from a castle – lavishly crafted interiors, a ballroom, tower, spiral staircase, beautiful gardens and 150 years of tumultuous past. Last year marked the 150th anniversary since merchant banker and politician William Larnach had land cleared to build his dream home. The milestone was honoured through a number of celebrations including a Victorian fete for the public, a number of special tours and a private gala dinner for the descendants of former owners.

A new long-term exhibition called Behind the Walls will remain for this year's visitors. The exhibition tells the castle's lesser-known stories between 1900 (which was the end of the ill-fated Larnach era) to 1967 (when the current family, the Barkers, moved in). Most surprising are the many ways in which the castle was put to use in that time.

Following Larnach's suicide in 1898, his already scandalised family was torn apart by legal battles over his property (Larnach died intestate). They subdivided, reducing the estate to 35 acres, and sold many of the chattels and furniture. During this time the castle briefly served as a retreat for Dominican nuns.

In 1906, the Government reluctantly purchased the castle. In 1907, it was reported that it was being made secure for criminally insane inmates. This caused panic among some Dunedin and Peninsula residents, who feared that the “most dangerous lunatics in the colony” were to be housed on the Otago Peninsula. The scheme was eventually abandoned, and elderly male patients from Seacliff Mental Asylum were sent there instead. The castle then stood vacant for a number of years, suffering theft and vandalism. It then passed through a number of private hands. John Jackson Purdie and his wife Laura bought the castle in 1927 and spent a large sum of money restoring the buildings and grounds as well as installing electricity. They turned the castle into a showplace filled with antiques and for a while it was open to the public. In 1937, friends of the Purdies ran a weekly cabaret, which involved dancing, supper and novelty items throughout the night. But then Mr Purdie got ill. Just 12 years after the Purdies had bought the castle it was on the market again, eventually selling at auction for a very reasonably priced 1,250 pounds. There were two more owners between 1941 and 1967, who also opened the castle to the public intermittently. When Larnach Castle was purchased by Barry and Margaret Barker in 1967 it was in a state of near ruin. The ballroom was being used as a sheep pen and the ill-repair of the roof meant a significant amount of water damage had occurred to the once-stately interior. The Barkers thoroughly researched the original décor, furniture and artwork in order to restore the castle to its original glory. Open to the public throughout, the restoration work has been funded through admission fees. In 2017, Larnach Castle was recognised as a Tohu Whenua – one of Aotearoa New Zealand's best heritage experiences. n

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is a partner in Tohu Whenua, a visitor programme that connects New Zealanders with our unique heritage. What makes a castle a castle?

One of the features that makes Larnach Castle officially worthy of its name is the ‘keep’. A keep is a heavily fortified area with a well to which the occupants can retreat during a siege.

Experiencing Larnach Castle

Open 365 days of the year, Larnach

Castle offers a diverse range of experiences for the whole family: • explore the castle on a self-guided The team of Delta arborists who worked on or guided tour Riddell’s Farm for Arbour Day 2021. • relax in the award-winning Garden of International Significance • refresh in the Ballroom Cafe with a cup of coffee, or book in for a High Tea experience • treat yourself to a range of luxury accommodation

• keep an eye out for one of the castle's many events. For more information visit tohuwhenua.nz