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Larnach Castle Cupola, Otago Peninsula. Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | Shellie Evans – flyingkiwigirl | 27/03/2017 | Shellie Evans

Larnach Castle Cupola, Otago Peninsula | 09/10/2005 | Larnach Castle Ltd

Larnach Castle Cupola, Otago Peninsula. Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | Shellie Evans – flyingkiwigirl | 27/03/2017 | Shellie Evans

Larnach Castle Cupola, Otago Peninsula. Detail CC BY 2.0 Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org | itravelNZ® | 01/06/2012 | itravelNZ® - Wikimedia Commons

Location

List Entry Information

Overview

Detailed List Entry

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 1

Access

Able to Visit

List Number

4770

Date Entered

7th July 1988

Date of Effect

7th July 1988

City/District Council

Dunedin City

Region

Otago Region

Overview

Status
Listed

List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1

Access
Able to Visit

List Number
4770

Date Entered
7th July 1988

Date of Effect
7th July 1988

City/District Council
Dunedin City

Region
Otago Region

Detailed List Entry

Significance

Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value Much of the castle was constructed between 1873 and 1876 and the Larnach family lived in the castle until 1906 when it was sold to the government. The Purdies owned it between 1927 and 1940 and were responsible for the construction of the cupola. The grounds fell into disrepair in the first half of this century and are being restored by the present owners.

Physical Significance

Architectural Significance: The dome is typical of the ornate fittings of a quality passenger ship at the beginning of the century. The cupola is a major garden ornament close to the front of the castle. Townscape/landscape Significance: The dome was probably the skylight of the ship's saloon and the cupola is now a place to sit in the garden and an ornament to look at.

Construction Details

Start Year

1928

Type

Original Construction

Construction Materials

The cupola stands on a seven-sided concrete base, three metres across, with seven ornate cast iron pillars about two metres high carrying a dome of wooden ribs. The ribs carry coloured glass panes of green, yellow, red and brown designs on opaque white glass, the designs including urns, contorted poppies, swags, spirals and acanthus leaves. The total height is about four metres. There was originally a ship's figurehead in the middle of the concrete base, but it has vanished. The glass dome came from a ship called the Paloona which was broken up at Port Chalmers about 1927. There was once a ship's figure head on a pedestal under the dome but it has vanished.

Notable Features

?possibly in 'In the Light of the Past' Phillips & Mclean, pp.43-44? The ornately painted glass dome.

Physical Description

Architect/Engineer/Designer: The Purdies owned Larnach Castle between 1927-1940. John J Purdie was a Dunedin businessman and owner of the General Coal Merchants and Carriers, Castle Street. He bought Larnach's Castle from the government in 1927 and opened it to the public. The Purdies had the structure built with a concrete base and ready-made iron veranda posts and they probably designed it. The glass is probably Austrian or Italian. Architectural Description (Style): The style is Victorian and reminiscent of some of the work of R H Fraser (Phillips and Maclean 1983). Modifications: The cupola is not in good repair. Some of the glass panes are missing and the central figure under the dome has gone. The Barkers intend restoring it.

Reference

Report Written By

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.

Further Information

Former Usages

General Usage:: Accommodation

Specific Usage: Gazebo/summer house

Web Links

description:

url: http://www.larnachcastle.co.nz/index.pasp