6 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Earnscleugh Castle Ltd T T Kim Newth Earnscleugh restoration in full swing When Central Otago farmer Stephen Spain commissioned architect Edmund Anscombe, a prominent architect of the day, to design a grand homestead on Earnscleugh Station in 1919, he could not have known that the Great Depression would soon wipe out much of his wealth. The change in fortune meant that he ran out of funds to complete the station homestead that came to be known as ‘Spain’s Folly’. Instead, that job has been taken on by Marco Creemers and Ryan Sanders, who purchased what is now known as Earnscleugh Castle on a 30-acre block in 2022. Taking on a category one heritage listed treasure like this is not for the faint hearted, but Ryan and Marco went into it with their eyes open and well-equipped for the challenge. Both are experienced corporate leaders with a flair for problem solving. Marco worked as General Manager of Samson Corporation for 33 years while Ryan is well-known as the founder of Haka Tourism Group. Wanaka is their favourite winter playground. Long before embarking on their restoration adventure, they had long dreamed of owning ‘a place in the country’ near Wanaka and its ski resorts. After years of looking, they’d almost given up on that dream but then came the TradeMe listing that changed everything. “One of Ryan’s managers spotted Earnscleugh Castle and passed it on to us,” says Marco. “It was exactly what we’d been looking for – an old homestead surrounded by big mature trees. We fell in love with it.” Earnscleugh Castle was originally designed as a 21-room mansion, with servants’ quarters, stables and a coach house. It is a lavish Jacobean-Elizabethan mash up with a red brick façade. The original plan included a white plastered façade but that never got done once the money ran out in the 1920s. “That whole hearing process and approval and consenting put us a year behind, but we’re now powering ahead and are in the throes of looking for a plastering contractor to do the façade.” T T to page 8 Marco and Ryan’s plan to complete the original design with full plastered façade almost came unstuck after the Central Otago District Council required a notified resource consent, even though Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) had accepted their proposal Marco says choosing the plastered façade option was a no brainer as it not only fulfils Anscombe’s vision but also provides the least intrusive solution for earthquake strengthening, protects the brick façade and effectively makes the house weather tight. Consent was finally granted last July. “That whole hearing process and approval and consenting put us a year behind, but we’re now powering ahead and are in the throes of looking for a plastering contractor to do the façade. We welcome enquiries from plasterers who may be interested in this unique project!” Proudly supporting Earnscleugh Castle Ltd Auckland - Wellington - Queenstown - Wanaka www.brownandcompany.co.nz | office@brownandcompany.co.nz We work nationwide on many different projects ranging from large-scale developments, infrastructure projects, commercial, urban and rural projects to single dwellings; our expert advice, local knowledge and experience get results.
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