In a quiet suburban street in Warrnambool, one home is stopping traffic.
Not because of size alone.
Not because of price.
But because it looks like it belongs in a fantasy novel.
Complete with stone walls, a keep, gargoyles and even a moat, this three-storey medieval-style castle is the work of veteran builder Ray Hollingsworth. And for Ray, it is not just another project. It is the most personal build of his career.
After more than 50 years in construction, this is his first castle.
Built for Family, Not Headlines
Ray built the castle as a home for his eldest son, Richard, but it has become a shared base for all three of his sons, who grew up obsessed with knights, dragons and medieval lore.
What began as childhood fascination evolved into adulthood passion. The brothers now run a tabletop war-gaming business from the castle’s basement, turning fantasy into a functioning family enterprise.
“I said, ‘Let’s just build a castle,’” Ray recalls. “So we built a castle.”
Simple in words. Anything but in execution.
Three Years, Countless Details, One Vision
The build took close to three years, with the design evolving as ideas turned into stone, iron and timber.
Almost every element has a story.
The wrought-iron fencing was repurposed from a Victorian-era cemetery.
The entry doors were salvaged from an old church in a neighbouring town.
An Axminster carpet was sourced directly from England and took months to arrive.
A full suit of armour, gifted to Ray for his birthday years earlier, finally has a permanent home.
“It all added flair as we went along,” Ray says.
Richard agrees.
“The keep was a later addition,” he explains. “That’s when it stopped feeling like a castle-themed house and started feeling like an actual castle.”
There was just one small issue.
“There’s no regulation in Australia for a keep,” Ray laughs. “So we called it an attic.”
When Craft Meets Creativity
The rear of the home houses a games room affectionately known as “the dungeon”. Skeletons hang from chains once used at Melbourne’s Pentridge Prison, adding to the theatrical atmosphere.
(Image source: ABC News)
Outside, the fantasy continues.
Richard’s brother Nicholas designed and 3D-printed custom gargoyles that now line the exterior walls. When it rains, water pours from their mouths, turning stormwater management into medieval theatre.
It is playful.
It is detailed.
And it is very serious craftsmanship.
A Master Builder’s Dream Project
Ray is one of a small number of Australian builders to hold the title of master builder, a designation reserved for those who meet the highest construction standards through rigorous assessment.
He has built countless homes across decades. But this one stands apart.
“I was allowed to build what I wanted, how I wanted,” he says. “That’s why I went a bit nuts on this one.”
From learning how to construct a moat to solving problems few residential builders ever encounter, the project pushed boundaries while remaining structurally and practically sound.
“This is my first castle,” Ray says. “And probably my last.”
More Than a House
Beyond the novelty, the castle represents something deeper.
Ray and his sons are neighbours. They work together. They build together. And now, they live within walls shaped by shared imagination and decades of trust.
“We’re a close family,” Ray says. “Not everyone gets the chance to do something like this for their kids. We just wanted to help them fly.”
Richard and his wife moved in only months ago. For them, the castle is not a gimmick. It is home.
“As a place to live and run a business,” Richard says, “it’s a dream come true.”
Why Stories Like This Matter
In an industry often defined by stress, regulation and risk, this project is a reminder of why many builders fell in love with construction in the first place.
Creativity.
Problem-solving.
Legacy.
It may sit in a suburban cul-de-sac, but this castle stands as proof that Australian builders are still capable of building with imagination, heart and pride.
And sometimes, a man’s home really is his castle.
Author: TGB Editorial
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