The final day for submissions to Central Otago District Council (CODC) on a resource consent application to change the facade of Earnscleugh Castle (EC) is tomorrow (Thursday (March 23) at 4pm.

Auckland couple Marco Creemers and Ryan Sanders bought the category one heritage listed building a year ago to restore it and open a boutique bed and breakfast.

Since then, Marco said they have spent $650,000 on building consents, resource consents, planners, architects, heritage experts and engineers. 

“I’ve got 35 years of experience of doing this sort of work in Auckland and last year we spent all of our time with Heritage New Zealand working out a proper plan; we created hugely detailed documents… and lodged our resource consent with their support.” 

The sticking point is the exterior finish of the building. The pair is hoping to plaster the house; which would complete the original design, weather proof and structurally strengthen the building. 

As the proposed alteration to the building is a “discretionary activity under the district plan” CODC has notified the resource consent application.

Marco said with the notified resource consent process taking up time, things were being drawn out further than they anticipated.

“I’ve resigned from my job and in two weeks I won't have an income.

“We have to be really careful now… It’s a huge amount of pressure.”

The pair wanted to open the six room bed and breakfast in April 2024, but that has been pushed to October 2024 and may possibly move even further out.

“We will take the house as far as we can over winter,” Marco said. 

Some internal earthquake strengthening and structural work, removing walls and moving beams, along with installing wiring and heating services can begin soon.

Marco and Ryan are due to move into the coach house (now a three bedroom apartment) over Easter and project manage the restoration of the main house. 

“If you believe in what we are doing, then we would love for you to support us by making a submission.”

Marco said they have had some quite significant players lodge their support and largely community feedback had been “really positive”. 

A report by specialist heritage company Origin consultants said the unfinished state of the building [is] an integral part of the heritage values.

It is well known that EC commissioner Stephen Spain ran out of money during its construction as the Great Depression hit in 1929-1933.

An additional memo places emphasis on the unrendered state of EC. 

“The Earnscleugh Station Homestead is… rightly given value for its unfinished state, with this being tangible evidence of the impact of the post-WW1 collapse on Spain’s business ventures and the environmental disaster that rabbits have proven to be to the District since being introduced onto Earnscleugh Station in the 1870s.

“The lack of render also allows the construction methodology of the building to be seen. To hide these historical, social and cultural values, and the aged patina of the house, from view behind a layer of modern render more than 100 years after the house was built will deplete the significance of ‘Spain’s Folly’, its story, and its place in the history of Otago.”

The EC original design by English born architect Edmumd Anscombe at 754 Earnscleugh Rd

Marco said leaving EC without plaster would be like building a new house and not painting the cladding.

An artist’s render of the fully plastered outside

Due to spiralling costs Marco has shelved plans for the stables, which was to be an art gallery and a one bedroom unit. 

“The stables block will suffer and that is the biggest loss… we can’t afford to do it [now].”

Marco said he has “quite the collection” of stories on the castle and he is excited about moving to Central.  

The castle, built in the 1920s, comprises an eight bedroom/three-bathroom manor, complete with two kitchens, a snooker room and multiple large entertaining parlours.

The park-like grounds of 22.1 hectares include out buildings, a two story stable compound, a work shed and inground pool. 

The information on EC’s resource consent application can be found here.

Read more: Next chapters awaits for Earnscleugh Castle