Waikouaiti wood-worker Warren Justice puts the finishing
touches on his 1:25 scale model of Cargill's Castle. Photo
by Peter McIntosh.
Until recently, Warren Justice was best known to his
grandchildren as a "pretty neat" doll's-house builder.
But during the past year, the 68-year-old Waikouaiti
wood-worker has "graduated" to being the builder of an
intricate 1:25 scale model of Cargill's Castle in St Clair,
in Dunedin.
The model, made from medium-density fibre board and rimu, is
based on photographs stored at the Hocken Library.
It has elaborate hand railings, leadlight windows and doors,
downpipes, lamps, outdoor toilets and wash-house, and even a
meat safe.
The model has taken about 1800 hours to build.
Mr Justice said he had previously built four miniature
mansions, but nothing of this size and level of detail.
"It was Dunedin's second castle. I chose to build it instead
of Larnach Castle because Larnach's was too detailed.
"I'm not up to that level of skill. That could take up to two
years to build and I haven't got that kind of time."
Built for Edward Cargill, the 21-room mansion was completed
in 1877, but was gutted by a fire in 1892.
"I thought people might like to see what it looked like when
it was first built, in its full glory."
When Mr Justice started the project, he planned to give the
model to the Dunedin City Council.
However, the Cargill's Castle Trust found out about the
model, and chairman Steven De Graaf said the trust wanted to
use it for promotional events.
Eventually, it was hoped the model would be put on permanent
display at the Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin.
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