Trust chairman Steven de Graaf said the stage-one work was the minimum required to allow safe access to the building’s interior and exterior for workers to complete structural stabilisation.
The plans for stage one, which have been drawn up by Hadley Robinson Consulting Civil & Structural Engineers and Origin Consultants architects, include fixing steel flats on the upper sections of the main walls and fixing ties to relieve the load on some existing beams.
Stage two of the project would involve stabilising the existing structure and building paths, walkways and viewing platforms to allow the public to visit Cargill’s Castle in safety.
"This year we are also going to work towards gaining some walkway access from Highgrove and putting in a new gate," Mr de Graaf said.
The ultimate aim was to link up a walking track through to Tunnel Beach, he said.
"It’s exciting that we have reached this stage in our project, so we can hopefully get stuck in and raise the funds required to stabilise the ruin and preserve the castle for the future."
Heritage Homes Open Day
For the first time in four years, Cargill’s Castle Trust is planning a fundraising Heritage Homes Open Day, to be held on Sunday, May 28 from 11am-4pm.
The self-drive tour will include homes across Dunedin, including Roslyn, Musselburgh, St Clair, Caversham, Ocean View and the central city, will vary from award-winning modern homes to historic houses, a commercial building, an art gallery and the Museum of Natural Mystery.
Included in the ticket is a coffee and cake at one of five Dunedin cafes or an ice cream from Patti’s & Cream.
Among the homeowners opening their doors on the day will be Cargill’s Castle Trust founding member Mark Kirkland and his wife Katia Volkova, whose 1937 St Clair home features stained-glass and lead-light windows, lots of restored wood, open fire places and a large sheltered garden.
"We are looking forward to welcoming people in to our home on the tour — it’s going to be fun," Ms Volkova said.
Tickets for the tour cost $70 and will be on sale from today and are available at Nichol’s Garden Centre, Bayleys Dunedin and Four Square St Clair.
Cargill’s Castle history
Built in 1877 for the Cargill family, the Italianate concrete structure was gutted by fire in 1892, restored, and passed through the hands of various owners. It became a notorious cabaret club in the 1930s and 1940s, and later an evangelical worship centre, before closing forgood in the 1950s and falling into ruin.
The Cargill’s Castle Trust was formed in 1998 with the aim of saving and preserving the castle as a significant part of Dunedin’s cultural heritage.
The trust bought and fenced the site, and has been working on an estimated $2 million project to stabilise the ruins and create safe ways for people to visit and enjoy the building and its incredible views along the coastline.
It also aims to develop walking access for the public, and develop the grounds for use as a clifftop park.
