Ah, Mr. William Larnach and his castle, where do I start? A very interesting story. I guess I'll start at the end, with the Barker family. The Barker family bought the castle in 1967. At that time, the castle was almost completely empty, in a sad state of disrepair, and with a leaky roof. It had been unoccupied a few times since it was built, and the Barkers spent many years restoring it, living in it, and collecting memorabilia of the Larnach family. As their children are now full grown and the castle's restoration is nearly complete, it is open to the public as the "only castle in New Zealand."
Now back to the very beginning - Mr. Larnach's father, John Larnach, lived most of his life in Australia, or "The Colonies," as Australia and New Zealand were known at the time. Of course, he would have certainly thought of himself as British. John Larnach was in charge of nearly 100 convicts in the penal colony. In the year William was born there was a revolt by the prisoners due to the harsh conditions under John's direction. As a result one convict was shot and 5 were later hung.
William Larnach went on to become a successful businessman. He was a banker, a farmer, a politician, and the co-owner of the largest trading company in Australasia at the time.
In 1859 he married his first wife, Eliza, with whom he had 6 kids.
When his son Donald was 9 years old, the two were walking and Donald climbed a hill and saw the most beautiful panorama. He told his father, and in January 1870, William bought the land and started building his castle. It took him 16 years to complete.
Sadly, Eliza died in 1880 of a stroke, only four years after they moved into the castle. She was in her 30s. Mr. Larnach married Eliza's half sister after the death of his first wife. She was hated by all his kids and she was a horrible drunk. She died during surgery only a few years later. Before her death, however, Mr. Larnach had transferred all his wealth to her, hoping to evade taxes and debt from poor investments. When she died, Mr Larnach's children inherited the fortune. However, he could not have this - he tricked his own children into signing the money back over to him.
Mr. Larnach soon married his third wife, Constance. She was much younger than him, and he was very proud of her. Most of his children didn't like her, either, and they feared she would take their inheritance. Mr. Larnach supported all his children into their adulthood, so they did not want him to marry. However, his son Douglas liked Constance - in fact, they started having an affair. Around this time his daughter Kate died of Typhoid and he found out about the affair; he couldn't cope and he shot himself in 1898 in the New Zealand Parliament House, where he was a politician.
After his death his children, all but Douglas, of course, were upset Constance inherited a substantial portion of the bit of money that was left. They united and went to court, arguing they were tricked into signing the money over to begin with. They won, and Constance was left out of the will. She never remarried, and died an old, poor woman in Britain. They sold the castle and spent the rest of the money. Donald, the son who had spotted the location for the castle, killed himself a few years later.
Now back to the very beginning - Mr. Larnach's father, John Larnach, lived most of his life in Australia, or "The Colonies," as Australia and New Zealand were known at the time. Of course, he would have certainly thought of himself as British. John Larnach was in charge of nearly 100 convicts in the penal colony. In the year William was born there was a revolt by the prisoners due to the harsh conditions under John's direction. As a result one convict was shot and 5 were later hung.
William Larnach went on to become a successful businessman. He was a banker, a farmer, a politician, and the co-owner of the largest trading company in Australasia at the time.
In 1859 he married his first wife, Eliza, with whom he had 6 kids.
When his son Donald was 9 years old, the two were walking and Donald climbed a hill and saw the most beautiful panorama. He told his father, and in January 1870, William bought the land and started building his castle. It took him 16 years to complete.
Sadly, Eliza died in 1880 of a stroke, only four years after they moved into the castle. She was in her 30s. Mr. Larnach married Eliza's half sister after the death of his first wife. She was hated by all his kids and she was a horrible drunk. She died during surgery only a few years later. Before her death, however, Mr. Larnach had transferred all his wealth to her, hoping to evade taxes and debt from poor investments. When she died, Mr Larnach's children inherited the fortune. However, he could not have this - he tricked his own children into signing the money back over to him.
Mr. Larnach soon married his third wife, Constance. She was much younger than him, and he was very proud of her. Most of his children didn't like her, either, and they feared she would take their inheritance. Mr. Larnach supported all his children into their adulthood, so they did not want him to marry. However, his son Douglas liked Constance - in fact, they started having an affair. Around this time his daughter Kate died of Typhoid and he found out about the affair; he couldn't cope and he shot himself in 1898 in the New Zealand Parliament House, where he was a politician.
After his death his children, all but Douglas, of course, were upset Constance inherited a substantial portion of the bit of money that was left. They united and went to court, arguing they were tricked into signing the money over to begin with. They won, and Constance was left out of the will. She never remarried, and died an old, poor woman in Britain. They sold the castle and spent the rest of the money. Donald, the son who had spotted the location for the castle, killed himself a few years later.
A lovely spot where we had breakfast before our castle tour.
The castle.
Another view. The windows around the veranda were added later to keep the castle warmer against the cold winds.
A sewing kit.
Mr. Larnach's third wife and widow, here pictured in old age.
Mr. Larnach referrered to his castle as "The Camp".
Scottish wild cats and the motto "Sans Peur," without fear, are associated with Mr. Larnach's Scottish clan.
In Victorian times, hair was often used in handiwork. Brooches with the hair of a loved one were worn after the person's death during the time of mourning.
This marble bath on the nursery floor weighs one ton and is a replica of a bath found in the ruins of Herculaneum.
Nursery.
Top of the castle.
View of the bay.
View from the top.
View from the gardens.
Silver Ponga fern - this fern is New Zealand's national emblem. The underside of the fronds is silver. It is believed that the Maori used the silver fronds as trail markers on trails used at night, as the silver plant was easier to spot.
Alice garden with castle in the background.
Not sure about this car, but it looked cool!
Interesting trap door.
Beautiful garden behind the castle.
Pennantia Baylisiana - For years this was thought to be the rarest plant on earth - only one plant was known to be alive, and it was a female. It was discovered by professor Baylis from Otago University. He took 6 cuttings from the original plant, three of which survived. One day, one of the cuttings produced both male and female flowers, resulting in viable seed. While all the resulting plants have the same genetics, the plants' numbers are increasing.
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