Heritage heavyweight new patron of Cargill’s Castle Trust

Cargill's Castle has taken another major step towards resurrection, now that the doyen of New Zealand heritage building conservation, Dame Anna Crighton, has been appointed as the castle trust’s new patron.

Dame Anna has a strong history of restoring and rescuing heritage buildings throughout the country.

She is a former registrar of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, a former Christchurch City councillor, a former Canterbury District Health Board member and a former Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga member. Following the Christchurch earthquakes, she was chairwoman of the Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Buildings Fund, which saved many damaged heritage buildings.

While based in Christchurch, Dame Anna said Dunedin was still very close to her heart, and she was looking forward to working with the Cargill’s Castle Trust to turn the castle into a major tourist attraction.

"I have an affinity with Dunedin from the fact that I lived there, went through Otago Girls’ High School and I did my PhD at Otago University.

"I’ve always had a very fond relationship with Dunedin. I believe it is probably the most intact heritage city left in New Zealand, and that’s something to be proud of.

"As far as Cargill’s Castle is concerned, that a group of people wish to take that on and keep it without it deteriorating until it has to be demolished, is absolutely fantastic and absolutely worthy of support.

"And who doesn’t want to be associated with saving a castle?"

Cargill’s Castle Trust chairman Steven de Graaf was delighted with Dame Anna’s support and believed she would bring a wealth of experience in conservation and getting funding for it.

In 2020, she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to heritage preservation and governance.

"Dame Anna’s wide experience in the governance, protection and conservation of built heritage is the perfect fit for the work currently being undertaken by the castle’s trustees."

He said stage one of the $2million stabilisation and development of the derelict building was due to begin within the next few months.

It would involve placing steel bands (plates) around the top of the walls to stabilise and strengthen the building.

Then in stage two, floors, stairways and viewing platforms would be created and cracks in the walls would be filled.

He said when the project was finished, tourists would be able to enjoy the views over the city and down the Otago coastline from the castle.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz