Owners of some of Dunedin's heritage homes will open their doors to the public later this month in support of the Cargill's Castle Trust.
The trust's Heritage Homes Open Day, which will be held on May 21, from 11am to 4pm, will give ticket-holders the opportunity to visit nine superb historic homes across the city.
Cargill's Castle Trust chairman Steven de Graaf said it was the first time in seven years the trust had held the tour.
"At one stage we held heritage homes tours every year but there has been quite a break since our last one,'' he said.
`We are really pleased with the quality of the homes generously being offered to us for the event,'' he said.
Up to 400 tickets were being sold for the open day, during which people would drive themselves around visiting the homes in any order they pleased, he said.
"It's a great day out.''
The Cargill's Castle Trust was formed in 1997 to try to save the castle ruins on the cliffs above St Clair from demolition.
The trust lobbies historic organisations and the Dunedin City Council, and raises funds towards its plans to eventually stabilise the ruin and open the area to the public.
A new group of trustees has recently joined the Cargill's Castle Trust, bringing new energy and enthusiasm to the castle project.
"I am very pleased to have a new group of energetic people involved in the trust. Things are going well,'' Mr de Graaf said.
Along with access to the heritage homes which will be open for viewing, open day tickets will include a voucher for coffee and cake at one of four Dunedin cafes.
• Tickets for the Cargill's Castle Trust Heritage Homes Open Day on May 21 cost $35 and are available from Nichol's Garden Centre, in Teviot St, Metro Realty, in Roslyn and Rockbourne Gallery, in York Place.
BRENDA.HARWOOD @thestar.co.nz
