This is no "ordinary" flexidisc, for a number of reasons.
a) Yes it is a flexidisc, made by Australia's own Ambassador Records (Sydney) specialists in flexidisc manufacture some 50 years ago.
b) The main "character" William Larnach was an Australian, born in the Hunter region of NSW
c) His creation, now commonly known as Larnach's Castle, is the only castle in NZ and is a major tourist attraction in the Dundedin area.
The Story Of Larnach Castle - Pictorial Sound Card
Originally sold as a souvenir at the Castle in the early 1970's
Mono recording - voice only, with a rousing instrumental opening "fanfare"
Made by Ambassador Records, Sydney
To be played at 33 NOT 45 (unless you like the sound of chipmunks!)
No catalogue number
Although no date is indicated on the sovenir pack or flexidisc, I believe this to have been made in the early 1970's or possibly 1980's - Ambassador Records specialised in flexidisc production and their last releases appear to have been made in the late 70's and early 80's
Although absolutely mint in all respects, up in the top right hand corner (front) is written .95 - I believe this was the souvenir price at the time (decimal currency was introduced in New Zealand 1967) sounds like such a small amount but extrapolating this out to 2017 (based on x2 every 7 years) this equates to approximately NZ$128 in 2016!
One photograph has been taken from the souvenir because it illustrates just some of the changes (large pond at the entrance has since been removed for example)
For contemporary photographs of this tourist attraction in Dunedin, New Zealand, go to their website https://www.larnachcastle.co.nz/
CONTENT OF THE FLEXIDISC
Side A - Larnach's Castle Dunedin, detailed description of the architectural design features, internal and external. Towards the end of Side A there is then a wealth of information about the construction costs back in the 19th Century, both of the buildings and the surrounding lands (originally 300+ acres)
Side B - Provides an in depth insight into who William Larnach was, his personal life and his tragic death in 1898.
In brief, William Larnach was born in the Hunter Region, NSW Australia. The Larnach family were "well connected" within Australian business circles and moved within the wealthy and influential in Australia.
William married Eliza Guise in 1859 and at this time joined the Geelong branch of the Bank Of New South Wales, becoming branch manager by 1867.
While on an overseas trip in the same year, he was asked to become the branch manager for Bank Of Otago New Zealand and later that year he accepted the position and arrived in Dunedin, September 1867.
Larnach amassed quite a fortune from his business dealings while in Dunedin and constructed what is now known as Larnach's Castle, although originally William Larnach referred to it simply as "The Camp"
Further details of Larnach's business and political actitivites are on this flexidisc and also online....William Larnach had much good fortune during his life but he also suffered difficult "hard times" which were finalised by his death in 1898.
William Larnach died tragically in 1898, committing suicide with a gun in Parliament House.
Since Larnach's death, the estate has been through many changes of ownership and was considerably "down sized" to its present 35 acres and the castle buildings.
After many sales and resales (nobody really knew what to do with the Castle) Barry Barker purchased the property in 1967 and to this day it remains in the Barker family.
This flexidisc was produced just after the Barker family had purchased the property, their plan to make the castle a premier tourist attraction was already well underway.
Larnach Castle is an intrinsic part of New Zealand history (with connections back to Australia) and is an absolute must see when visiting the Otago region.
The flexidisc plays extremely well - no bumps on the flexidisc, just the occasional click/pop but surface noise is very low level
This 50 year old souvenir item from the castle is in "as-new" condition and to maintain this condition it has been stored with extra disc protection and supported by a sealed stiff cardboard base.
It is well worth another play but take EXTREME CARE, flexidisc's are quite delicate and must not be bent too much.
