Dunedin-Larnach Castle (2)

The Story of William Larnach

William James Mudie Larnach, of Scottish descent, was born in 1833 in New South Wales, Australia.  His banking career began in Melbourne then followed the gold rush to the Australian goldfields where he was manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Ararat.  His bank was a tent and his equipment consisted of dogs, a gun, and strong boxes. 
Gold was discovered in Otago, New Zealand, in the 1860's. 

Larnach was offered the position of manager of the Bank of Otago in Dunedin, which serviced the extensive goldfields.  He sailed for Dunedin in 1867. 
Larnach's brillant career encompassed his merchant empire Guthrie and Larnach, banking, shipping, farming, landholding, politics and... speculation.  He travelled extensively and was a cabinet minister in the New Zealand Government, holding various portfolios, over a period of twenty-five years. 
Larnach was married three times and had six children.  

He was pre-deceased by his first two wives and his eldest daughter, Kate.  He took his own life in the New Zealand Parliament Buildings in 1898.