The imperious William Larnach

WILLIAM LARNACHwas born in Castle Forbes, New SouthWales, in 1833 to awealthyland-owning family and, as aboy,heworked both in thegoldfields andon the land

He began a career in banking with the Bank of New South Wales in Victoria before being lured across the Tasman Sea to Dunedin in 1867 to take up the position of manager of the Bank of Otago

Unable to revive that bank’s fortunes, he subsequently became the first Dunedin manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, which took over the troubled Bank of Otago, but left after only a short time

He later clashed with the bank’s inspector, John Bridges before the committee of the Dunedin Club, Bridges charged him with dishonourable conduct and Larnachresponded with a scathingattackonBridges in the Otago DailyTimes Larnachthenabandoned banking as acareerand became involvedina number of commercial enterprises, farming and land speculation

He bought thepastoralruns of Eyre Creek, Middle Dome, Longridgeand Conical Hills and, togetherwithWalter Guthrie, establishedGuthrie andLarnach’sNew Zealand Timber andWoodware Factories Company, atimberand hardware company which Larnach claimed employed 500, more men than any other firm in the colony

He was essentially a promoter and a financial backer, sought after as a member of boards of directors

He was a shareholder in many ventures, including coal-mining companies, railways, banks and newspapers, and was instrumental in many nationally important ventures He was the first managing director of the New Zealand Refrigeration Company responsible for the first shipment of frozen meat which sailed from Port Chalmers in 1882, an eventofgreat significance for thefutureof NewZealand’sfarming industry

Foratimehewas immensely wealthy—heboasted that his land investmentsalone were earninghim about£10,000 ayear during the mid-1870s

He built a magnificent home on Otago Peninsula which he called The Camp, popularly known as Larnach’s Castle

Built as a ‘‘monument to his enterprise’’, it is now an important Dunedin tourist attraction and has ensured his is still a household name

The castle was designed by R A Lawson, the architect who also designed First Church and the Municipal Chambers It was of the Gothic revival style, popular in Europe at that time, although colonial verandas surround the first two floors

Construction beganin1871. Aboutthree yearswerespent on the‘‘shell’’ of thebuilding, employingsome200 workmen; it took another12years to completethe interior. Wherehis housewas concerned, Larnachwas a perfectionist Only the best craftsmen were employed, many from overseas, and the best materials were used marble from Italy, glass from Venice, tiles from England and timber from everywhere Timber, Oamaru stone and imported materials had to be punted across Otago Harbour and dragged up the 300m hill by ox-drawn sleds Larnach’s motto ‘‘Sans Peur’’ (without fear) was incorporated into many features the tessellated hall floor, the windows on the stairway and over the entrance door ver more than460 images from the Otago Daily Times tion showcasing thelifeand times of Otagoand Southland.

The estimatedcostofthe castle was£125,000, at atimewhenthe average wage wasone shillinga day. It wasacclaimed at thetime as oneofthe most magnificent privateresidences in New Zealand, employing46 servants to service andmaintainitand thegrounds

The peninsula wasatthattime regarded as remote andLarnach conceivedthe ideaofbuilding ahotel, theDandie Dinmont, at what is nowWaverley, where he couldleave hishorse and carriageand completehis journeytoDunedin by paddle steamer

The buildingwas designedby architects Masonand Wales, butthe ideaofa hotelwas abandonedand thehouse,which came to be knownasthe White House, waseventuallytenanted Larnachsoonbecamedogged by avariety of financialtroubles andturnedtonationalpolitics, winningthe City of Dunedin andlater thePeninsula and Tuapekaseats.

At varioustimes he heldthe positionsofcolonialtreasurer, minister forpublic works, railways commissioner, minister of stamps andminister of mines, aposition at whichheworked tirelessly, establishingschools of minemanagementand editing acomprehensivesurveyofthe miningindustry.

As apublic figure, Larnach knownfor hispractical jokes around Parliament.Hewas an athletic horserider,a vain yet changeablecharacterwith