Daily Photo – The Entrance Hall at Larnach’s Castle
Upon arrival at Larnach’s home, guests were greeted with an almost panoramic view of the splendour and beauty of the Otago Peninsula, looking out over bays, inlets, and harbours that stretched from the city to Port Chalmers and beyond.
Before entering the house, they would first ascend stairs made from local Port Chalmers basalt, guarded by lions, eagles, and griffins carved from Oamaru stone. They then came face-to-face with a heavy door crafted from solid English oak, featuring a Gothic Revival design with heavy brass handles and glass panels that filtered light into the main entrance foyer.
Once inside, guests found themselves standing in one of the finest entrance halls in the country. The tiles beneath their feet were sourced directly from Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England, while the glass windows came from Italy, and the ornate wooden paneling was crafted from Spanish mahogany, kauri, and Burmese teak. Above them sat a ceiling so intricate and detailed that it took six years to carve, from which hung the finest chandeliers money could buy. To a visiting guest, there could be no doubt that this was a residence built not merely for comfort, but as a staggering declaration of wealth, power, and ambition.
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