Zillah and Ronald Castle started the Castle Collection of musical instruments before the Second World War and it was exhibited from their home in Newtown, Wellington until Ronald´s death in 1984.
The Auckland Museum purchased most of the private collection from the estate in 1998, fulfilling the Castles’ wish that their private museum would form the basis of a national collection. The siblings have been described as New Zealand’s "pioneers … in the cause of early music and instruments".
The Castle Collection is the single most important collection of antique, rare and unusual instruments and musical scores in the nation. The collection of over 480 instruments has been described as being unique in the southern hemisphere, and was cited in the new Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
Zillah Castle and her brother Ronald, Wellington. New Zealand Free Lance : Photographic prints and negatives. Ref: PAColl-6203-45. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22327217
Ron Castle holding a trumpet. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1959/1704-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23504000olding a trumpet
Musical instruments from the collection of Ronald and Zillah Castle. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1956/0339-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23101290
Musical instruments from the collection of Ronald and Zillah Castle. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1956/0338-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23187441
Musical instruments from the collection of Ronald and Zillah Castle. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1956/0342-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22343235
Musical instruments from the collection of Ronald and Zillah Castle. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1956/0337-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22885558
Zillah Vivian Castle with violin. S P Andrew Ltd :Portrait negatives. Ref: 1/1-018856-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22538575
Ronald Castle. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: 114/266/05-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23013536
Musical instruments from the collection of Ronald and Zillah Castle. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1956/0340-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22825869
Musical instruments from the collection of Ronald and Zillah Castle. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1956/0341-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23157068
Short, Jack, fl 1977. Pharmacist Ronald Castle with a carboy once used for distilling medicine - Photograph taken by Jack Short. Dominion post (Newspaper) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers. Ref: EP-Industry-Medicines and pharmaceutical-04. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22805869
Short, Jack, fl 1977. Pharmacist Ronald Castle preparing medicine at his shop on 139 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington - Photograph taken by Jack Short. Dominion post (Newspaper) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers. Ref: EP-Industry-Medicines and pharmaceutical-03. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23042736
Short, Jack, fl 1977. John Castle's chemist shop, 139 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington - Photograph taken by Jack Short. Dominion post (Newspaper) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers. Ref: EP-Industry-Medicines and pharmaceutical-02. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22811079
The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.
