A second Otago ''castle'' has gone on the market, and this one comes with its own village.
Last week, historic Earnscleugh Station homestead and 400ha near Alexandra went on the market, this week it is the turn of Campbell Park Estate in the Waitaki Valley.
Complete with a ''castle'', an ''educational campus'' with dormitories, classrooms, a library, gym and pool, and a village community of 32 houses, the property has been listed for sale with a price tag of $3.95 million.
The history of Campbell Park Estate dates back to 1857, when William Dansey bought and lived on the sheep and cattle station that later became the estate.
He had the first house built in 1861 and ''Dansey's Hut'' remains on the property.
It became an educational facility more than a century ago.
American Charles Tompkins and his son Nathan bought the 27ha estate in 1988 after the Ministry of Education closed the special school for boys on the site.
The Tompkins could not be contacted yesterday.
The estate is made up of four main areas: the original historic buildings, the educational campus, the residential village and the grounds.
The ''castle'' is the oldest in New Zealand.
The village is a group of character houses, including 10 three-bedroom villas, five 1940s timber three-bedroom homes, four Oamaru stone three-bedroom homes, 13 brick three and four-bedroom homes, along with a 230sq m clubhouse building.
Some of the houses are rented short-term for events and visitors using the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, while others are rented longer term.
The property has a rateable value of about $1.98 million.
In 2008, and again in 2011, it was put on the market but did not sell.
The property is now being marketed by Colliers International's Queenstown office, and broker Barry Robertson said it was a ''rare opportunity'' for someone.
''This property is more like a small town. There is nothing else of its kind in New Zealand.''
There was also an opportunity for a buyer to acquire an additional 80ha of land next door.
There were multiple ways the property could be used, he said.
''Campbell Park's special atmosphere and majestic setting would also make it a wonderful place for a retreat or a conference complex, offering accommodation and a restaurant as an all-inclusive venue, with plenty of outdoor and indoor activities to take advantage of on and around the estate.''
Scottish craftsmen built 'castle'
In 1857, William Dansey bought and lived on a sheep and cattle station that later became Campbell Park Estate.
His house, built in 1861, remains on the estate today as Dansey's Hut.
Mr Dansey sold the property in 1861 to the Hon Robert Campbell, the son of a wealthy Scottish family with business interests in England and Australia.
Campbell and a large workforce of Scottish craftsmen built the Campbell Park ''castle'' and stables in 1876.
In 1908, the estate was sold to the New Zealand Education Board, which used it as a special school for boys until 1987.
The school was closed and in 1988 the estate passed into private ownership, to Charles Tompkins and his son, Nathan.
Campbell Park Estate has hosted film productions including Narnia and sporting events including the Springston Trophy equestrian competition.
Campbell Park
• Property covers 27ha
• Includes castle and 32 houses
• 220-seat restaurant and commercial kitchen
• Historic stables
• Four dormitories
• Library, theatre, tennis courts and gymnasium
• Equestrian facilities and vineyards
• Large restored villa, jail house and two smaller Oamaru stone buildings known as Dansey's Hut and Taylor's Cottage.
• There is also an old subterranean cave.
