This month Knobby have released our spell-binding & creepy ‘Hex Appeal’ on to the masses! It includes skeleton wizards running amok in a fortress forged with ghoulish goblins & lightning bolts.
We chose to get some content of this design at a castle. Which got us thinking…How many other castles are scattered across Australia? Let’s take a peek at a few & brush up on our castle lore!
Let’s kick off our illustrious list with Knobbys local castle which provided a truly wizarding backdrop for our Hex Appeal photoshoot. We are talking about Bli Bli’s ‘Sunshine Castle’
Sunshine Castle - Bli Bli, QLD
The ‘Fairytale Castle’ as it was originally called was built by a Scottish couple in 1973. It housed original fairytale dioramas & dolls. Over the last decade the Sunshine Castle shifted its focus to a medieval themed museum. It has become a popular spot over the last few years as a stellar location for weddings, functions & special events.
All Saints Estate - Wahgunyah, VIC
No, this estate doesn’t house 90’s girl group All Saints but it does have a castle that was constructed mainly of handmade bricks that were fired in the Brick Kiln on the property. All Saints Estate is a family owned winery established in 1864 & was originally owned by George Sutherland Smith & John Banks from Scotland. Nowadays it is known for its Winery & is run by siblings Eliza, Angela & Nicholas Brown.
Amigo’s Castle - Lightning Ridge, NSW
This 15-metre-tall structure, based on Italian ruins, was hand-built with ironstone boulders in the 1980’s by Vittorio Stefanato who was looking for somewhere to live. It's home to a small gallery, underground cellars, a corner turret and no roof. The grounds surrounding the castle contain all sorts of tongue-in-cheek oddities.
Paronella Park - Mena Creek, QLD
José Paronella & his wife purchased 13 acres of scrub along Mena Creek in 1929. After building a house to live in they then decided to chuck a castle on the land too! It was constructed of poured, reinforced concrete, the reinforcing being an old railway track. The concrete was covered with a plaster made from clay and cement, which they put on by hand, leaving behind their fingerprints. Nowadays the park in run by Mark & Judy Evans who have successfully maintained & preserved this unique location.
The Kerrigan Home
Based in the outer Melbourne blue-collar suburb of Coolaroo & owned by Darryl & Sal Kerrigan. This castle was built in a largely undeveloped housing tract on a toxic landfill directly adjacent to an airport runway. The owners faced threats of compulsory acquisition from developers wanting to use their land for an airport expansion. The case was taken to the High Court of Australia where the court ruled in favour of the Kerrigan family who agree that ‘a man’s home is his castle’
