Dandie Dinmont Terriers in the UK

Did you know New Zealand has a castle? Well it does - in fact it had two at one time but only one is left standing - Larnach Castle. This castle was built in many stages for William Larnach between 1871 and 1887. He used to call it 'The Camp' but today it is open daily as a castle. A politician, banker, minister of mines, property tycoon Larnach committed suicide in 1898 in Parliament House. But he had two Dandie Dinmont Terriers!

Bus Stop Art by John Noakes

Of course John knew about William Larnach and his properties and used one of them, The White House in Dunedin, as a subject for one of his shelters. Larnach built the White House as a Hotel but the authorities wouldn't licence it because of accessibility - the patrons had to row over to Waverley on the Otago Peninsular, from Dunedin, to visit the Public House.

But it wasn't going to be called the White House by Larnach. No, it was to be called the Dandie Dinmont after the breed of the dogs he owned.

It never became a hotel and had quite a history of debauchery as a boarding house before being let to students. So perhaps it is as well that it was called the White House whilst the Dandies remained at Larnach Castle. 

John has recorded this bit of history on a bus stop in Portobello Road on the Otego Peninsular (Dunedin to Taiaroa Head road).

Your webmaster wanted to record this art in 'the annals' so it doesn't just disappear. John died in January 2006 after an illness. He was an interesting man (read his Obituary ) and we thank him for 'our' bus stop.