Cargill’s Castle

#309 Do - Celebrate a historic Dunedin landmark and New Zealand’s only castle ruin, Cargill’s Castle. Built in 1876 for former Dunedin mayor, Edward Cargill, the seventh son of Captain William Cargill, it was named The Cliffs. An example of Italianate architecture, the remains of this once impressive mansion sit high on the cliffs above St Clair. The architect was Francis Petre (Lord Concrete), and during construction Mr Cargill’s eldest daughter Margaret fell in love with Mr Petre, and they married in the castle soon after it was completed. From a family home it became a vibrant evening restaurant and cabaret then a Christian centre, and over the years the castle slowly degraded. In 1997 the Cargill’s Castle Trust was formed to conserve the ruin, stabilise the building and in 2020 public access will be restored (currently there is no access to the Castle), which is wonderful for this elegant ruin

#history #architecture