A hidden castle on the Otago Peninsula has been relisted for sale.
The three-bedroom home, which is just a stone's throw from the region's best-known landmark, Larnach Castle, was built from thousands of recycled bricks and bears all the hallmarks of a medieval stronghold.
Perched on top of a hill within a lush 13ha estate, the unique residence at 785 Portobello Road, in Broad Bay, is the result of a building project that took an unexpected turn.
It was first listed for sale in 2024 but was withdrawn from market after a family tragedy. Now owners Denise and Greg Powell are ready to move on, downsizing into what they hope will be their next forever home.
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The Powells' castle stands on a piece of land they fell in love with years earlier while admiring it from the window of their previous home.
"I could look out my window and see these beautiful paddocks," Denise told OneRoof. "When it came up for sale, my husband went, 'I want that.' We hadn't even walked the boundaries."
Denise and Greg Powell at their home. When they bought the 13ha block on Portobello Road more than 30 years ago, little did they know they'd build a castle. Photo / Supplied
The property looked like a standard brick home from afar until the battlements were added in the early 2000s. Photo / Supplied
They snapped up the property in 1992 for $122,500 and started planning their dream home. The original design had two low turrets on either end of what they described as being a relatively conventional American-style home.
"We had built once before," Denise said. "But it was a kit set, so we didn't have a lot of input. With this house, we wanted something unique. We scoured house plan books and found one design we quite liked, but it did look very American."
But then Greg stumbled across a pair of old church doors at a demolition yard, which took the couple's plans in a different direction.
"Greg found a pair of three-metre-high church doors, which had come from the Catholic Church in Beaumont when they were demolishing that church."
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Greg realised they would have to rework their plans to accommodate the doors. Suddenly the low Victorian-style turrets didn’t look quite right, so they made a couple of adjustments.
The idea of a castle was growing on Greg. But he took his time to articulate that. "He led me down the garden path. If he'd said to me right up front, 'I think we should build a castle', I would have said, 'Don't be so stupid'."
The doors proved controversial when the Powells introduced the idea to their draftsman. He refused to raise the ceilings, suggesting instead that they cut a metre off the bottom of the doors. The couple fired him and found another draftsman, a recent university graduate who was happy to take on the project.
The hallway is one of the few areas in the house that has a real medieval feel to it. The large church doors can be seen on the right. Photo / Supplied
The large lighting fixture in the living room previously hung in the Hermitage Hotel in Mount Cook. Photo / Supplied
The church doors were not the only recycled materials that helped shape the house. The couple sourced tens of thousands of bricks from a building being demolished in Milton, giving the home much of its distinctive character.
For the build, they employed retired bricklayers who relished the chance to work on something more elaborate than the brickwork they usually encountered.
The Powells were hands-on with the build. "Every night the bricklayers would leave a written sign that would say, like, 400 bricks here. At night, my dad used to go up on the scaffolding, and Greg would stand below and toss the bricks. He developed the most amazing pec muscles through that period," Denise said.
The couple have had 30 wonderful years in the 310sqm home. That has included some memorable medieval-themed parties. In the early years, friends often gave them gifts suitable for a castle, including maces and other medieval-style weapons, which were eventually mounted on the walls to keep them out of reach of visiting children.
The castle has its own games room. Photo / Supplied
The grounds are a paradise for children with trees, pony paddocks, and adventures to be had. Photo / Supplied
Some of the castle's fittings have their own stories. One of the light fittings in one of their towers came from the Hermitage at Mount Cook, where Denise believes 12 similar fittings once hung in the dining room before a refurbishment in the 1990s.
"A friend spied it in a second-hand shop in Timaru and called me to say she had found the perfect addition to the castle," Denise said. Greg duly took a trailer to collect it. Hanging it required scaffolding and a couple of extra pairs of hands because it is so large.
There is also a trapdoor in a hallway cupboard, which provides access beneath the house. "We used to tell the kids that came that it was the trapdoor to the dungeon, and they believed us. No child has ever been willing to find out," Denise said.
Although they didn't have children themselves, the home has often been filled with young visitors. "Our nieces and nephews absolutely adored the place. Greg built a tree hut, and they used to go off down there. Kids could have the most amazing adventures on this property but never actually go anywhere."
Denise would like to see the home bought by a family. "It's got enough [room] for everyone to have their own space. It would also suit someone who perhaps had mum or dad living with them. Or a retired farmer who is downsizing."
Much of the land is planted with trees, but a couple of paddocks remain. "You could run some sheep if you really wanted to, or a pony or whatever." Although it is a rural home, public buses pass the gate, and a popular cycleway is nearby.
The Powells have bought a property in Broad Bay, which they plan to redevelop. Denise said: "I've just turned 65 and we're future-proofing. Four years ago, a property came up in Broad Bay, which is three-quarters of an acre, which for us is downsizing. Everybody else goes, 'Oh my God, what are you going to do with three-quarters of an acre?' But it's a well-established garden because gardening is one of my favourite things to do," Denise said.
The decision to sell the castle was put on hold last year after the death of Denise's father. "After listing the house, our family experienced an unexpected and devastating loss when my dad passed away in a cycling accident. At that time, selling the property became far less important than being together and supporting each other, so we decided to withdraw it from the market. Having had some time to ourselves, we now feel ready to move forward and have relisted the home."
LJ Hooker listing agent Geraldine Hermens told OneRoof that the house was modern even though it looked medieval. "There are some features in the dining area that are castle-inspired, but overall, it is a well-thought-out 310sqm home all on one level. It really is a beautiful home that flows extremely well."
Like the Powells, Hermens can see a family buying the home. "For a family to grow up in a property of that calibre and that location would be pretty incredible. Total privacy. No one around. You can let your children explore. They can be out in the fields and in the trees and be very safe. The grounds are sensational."
- 785 Portobello Road, Broad Bay, Dunedin, is for sale by negotiation
