Ray Hollingsworth, a 50‑year‑old builder, erected a three‑storey medieval‑style castle with a moat in Warrnambool, Victoria, last December for his eldest son Richard, who runs a tabletop war‑gaming venture.
Richard and his brothers had long cultivated a passion for knights and dragons, a theme that also framed his 2025 wedding, prompting the family to seek a headquarters that matched their fantasy aesthetic.
Construction sourced reclaimed church doors from a nearby parish, wrought‑iron fencing salvaged from a cemetery, and an English Axminster carpet that arrived after a three‑month wait, while his brother Nicholas 3D‑printed the water‑releasing gargoyles.
The basement now houses a dungeon‑styled games room with skeleton props, and the keep—called an attic to satisfy local building codes—serves as a lookout, while Richard and his wife occupy the upper floors.
Local media dubbed the structure a quirky landmark, and the Hollingsworths have hinted at opening the castle’s courtyard to visitors during holiday weekends, potentially boosting tourism for the regional economy.