For a long time, Larnach Castle was New Zealand’s only castle, and for a long time, also one of the more haunted places in the country. Built by a rich banker to live with his family, his dream of a lasting dynasty ended when personal tragedies as well as failed political and business ventures started to turn the family against each other.
In 1994, Dunedin’s Fortune Theatre presented the play Castle of Lies, which explored the historical tragedies of the Larnach family. This performance took place in the castle’s majestic ballroom, providing a dramatic and evocative backdrop for the theatrical representation. Over a hundred were invited to watch.
When the performance started, a strong and not predicted storm started outside. The wind was so strong it blew right into the fireplaces, causing small white particles to be blown into the ballroom. Hail began to crash onto the iron roof loudly and when the performers got to the part where the main character, William Larnach shot himself, a flash of lightning shot through the room. Many guests thought it was part of the play, but it was not. Could it actually have been the Larnach patriarch and builder of the castle who came back to haunt it?
History of Larnach Castle
Larnach Castle, situated on the Otago Peninsula in Dunedin, New Zealand, is a majestic and imposing building that has captured the imagination of locals and tourists alike for over a century. Known as one of the country’s most haunted attractions, the castle has a rich and chilling history that has earned it a reputation as a hotspot for paranormal activity. From murder and suicide to betrayal and heartbreak, the stories surrounding Larnach Castle are as fascinating as they are eerie.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from New Zealand
Larnach Castle was built in 1871 by William Larnach, a wealthy merchant and politician who spared no expense in creating his dream home after he made his fortune in banking after the discovery of gold in Otago. The castle was designed by Robert Lawson, a prominent architect of the time, in the Gothic Revival style, with turrets, ornate carvings, and stained-glass windows from Venice and marble from Italy.
The castle was also built using local materials, including Oamaru stone and Rimu timber, and featured the latest modern conveniences, such as flushing toilets, gas lighting, and a central heating system. It took over a decade to complete the whole mock castle and when it was done it had 43 rooms and 46 servants to run it. Ironically it was actually called The Camp at first.
The Ghosts of His First Wife Eliza
However, Larnach’s dream home was short-lived, as tragedy struck his family several times over the years.
His daughter Kate died when she was 29 of typhoid and Larnach’s beloved first wife, Eliza, died in 1891 when she was only 38 of a stroke.
It has been rumored that she died in the castle all alone as her husband was in Australia. Eliza who is said to haunt the landing near her bedroom where it is said she died. However, the guides of the castle underlines that this is actually not true. It is also said that William built the house to impress his beloved wife, but it is also said that Eliza preferred to stay in Dunedin town as the castle was far away from everything and cold.
The Ghost of his Favorite Daughter, Kate
The oldest Larnach daughter, Kate, was often said to be William’s favorite daughter. She died of typhoid when she was in Wellington where she is now buried.
She allegedly haunts the ballroom where they say that she was put to rest for a time in a glass coffin. Local legends state that the ballroom was a gift to her for her 21st birthday, but as she was actually older than that at the time, that’s rather unlikely and that it was to all of his children and the gift was actually presented to her younger
His other daughters, Colleen and Alice left for Christchurch and the lights in the ballroom remained off.
Today it is used as a cafe and people sometimes claim to catch a glimpse of their favorite daughter taken too soon. Often she is described as the Gray Lady haunting her former home and the sounds of dishes or glasses being moved around can be heard by those passing by.
The Death and Haunting of William
Crushed by the terrible tragedies, William later remarried Eliza’s half sister Mary Alleyne, who had been living with them since 1867. Some say it was a marriage of convenience as his and Eliza’s smallest children were so little, some point to the strange sleeping arrangements in their house, where the two sisters had bedrooms on each side of William’s bedroom door. There were also talks about the more grown children not liking her because she was drinking too much. This would not be a lasting match however as Mary passed away in 1895, also 38 after she contracted blood poisoning when she operated on a cyst in her womb. .
The third and final time William married, it was to the much younger Constance de Bathe Brandon. He was 58 at the time, she was 37. It’s written in books about the speculations that his wife had an affair with his son, Douglas. Larnach himself committed suicide in October, 1898 on New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings, after a time of personal tragedies and financial troubles.
It would not be a peaceful rest however. Some time after his death, Larnach’s skull was stolen and was recovered in 1972 from a college student’s bedroom with a whole in the head after his gunshot. Now, hopefully he is at rest in his family mausoleum in the Dunedin Northern Cemetery.
Was his death and turbulent afterlife the reason that he has come back to haunt his life work? The home that ended up tearing his family apart? Some of the most common sightings say there is a ghostly apparition of a bearded Victorian gentleman believed to be William, haunting the ballroom and the master bedroom and castle gardens. Visitors have reported seeing his ghostly figure walking around the castle, and some have even claimed to feel his presence in the room and the smell of his cigars and port.
The Ghost of Constance
The castle was left to his six children, who could not afford to maintain it and was trapped in a tense legal battle over his will as he died without a valid one. The Larnach family sold the house in 1906.
Another of the family said to haunt the castle is the 3rd wife, Constance. She was by law promised a third of his inheritance, but the older brother Donald and the rest of the siblings took her to court to dispute her claim. They won and the only sibling siding with Constance was Douglas.
There have been many rumours about these two, even that William shot himself when news about their affair reached him. He supposedly found it out when they went to Australia in 1898 together, and when he returned, he was depressed and bought the gun.
Truth is, we will never truly know what went down then. They didn’t end up with each other though, and Douglas went on to marry someone else. Constance gave birth to a child in England, where she left him in an unknown foster family. She returned to Dunedin and never met Douglas Larnach again. She died in 1942. Douglas Larnach passed away in 1949.
A couple got pushed apart while entering Constance’s Room on the second floor. Her lace wedding dress is on display here as well as many of her Victorian toiletries. The room is also much colder than the other rooms in the building.
Some think it’s the spirit of Constance who still haunts her former room. Some think that it’s actually Eliza, angry about the third wife taking her place.
Other Ghostly Rumours at Larnach Castle
For a short time it was used as an asylum for the shell shocked soldiers returning from the first world war, and the castle fell into disrepair and was eventually sold to the government in 1967.
It is during this post-Larnach period that David Mills, a guide working at the castle suspects the ghost sightings originate, although it was a totally different ghost than what it is known of today.. “There are stories told by two separate staff members of being out in the garden and having a young boy come and take hold of their hand. Apparently, the boy then said to them ‘I’ve got to go in now’ and left. But it wasn’t a real boy,” David explains. “I have heard of two people having that same experience on different occasions.
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And many more strange occurances was to come. After falling into disrepair for many years, Larnach Castle was purchased by the Barker family in 1967. The Barkers undertook a massive restoration project, spending over 20 years and millions of dollars to restore the castle to its former glory. The castle was opened to the public in 1972, and it has since become one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist attractions.
And the rumours grew. There’s a legend about a blood stain on one of the baths upstairs. But the bath is original marble and there are no blood stains, or even any rust stains to blame it on. Still, visitors continue to report on strange things happening around the house. In 2012, Otago Daily Times received an email about a man and his wife who experienced a force coming between them and pushing them apart in the music room.
“We stayed where we were and it happened a second time. Then my wife moved and I stayed in the same spot, wondering if it would happen again and it did, but this time the wall unit next to me started a slight creaking rocking at the same time.”
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The Future of Larnach Castle
Today, Larnach Castle is a thriving tourist attraction that attracts visitors from all over the world. The castle is open to the public for tours, and visitors can explore the many rooms, gardens, and grounds of the castle. The castle also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including weddings, Victorian high tea, concerts, and special events as well as one or two ghost tours to explore the more supernatural history of the castle.
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References:
Early History – Larnach Castle & Gardens – New Zealand’s castle, visit us in Dunedin
Larnach Castle: clearing the ghost stories
Larnach Castle – Haunted NZ – The Quantum Foundation
Haunted castle was once a family home | The West Australian
Ballroom Cafe – Larnach Castle & Gardens – New Zealand’s castle, visit us in Dunedin