William Larnach, landowner, Minister of the Crown banker financier and merchant Baron built the Castle for his beloved first wife, Eliza Jane Guise. Construction began in 1871, and 200 workmen laboured for five years before the family moved in. Gifted European craftsmen worked for eleven more years to embellish the interiors with the finest materials from around the world.
Castle Tours
With its exciting, sometimes scandalous, sometimes tragic history, its magnificent carved ceilings, New Zealand antiques and breathtaking views, Larnach Castle offers you a vision of the past and present. Today, the Castle is the home of the Barker family, who have spent more than thirty years lovingly restoring the building and recreating the beauty of the 35 acres of gardens and grounds.