Edward Bowes Cargill (9 October 1823 – 9 August 1903) was a 19th-century businessman and Member of Parliament in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

Their business prospered due to the Otago gold rush, but their premises burned down twice (in late 1861 and in early 1864).

[4] He was twice on the Executive Council of Otago Province and served as Provincial Secretary (19 August 1863 – 15 September 1863; 13 April 1871 – 2 June 1871).

He contested the 1887 election in the Dunedin Central electorate,[7] but was beaten by Frederick Fitchett.

While designing the house, Petre fell in love with Cargill's daughter Margaret.

After a difficult courtship (due to Petre's staunch Catholicism and the Cargill family's equally staunch Presbyterianism) the couple were eventually permitted to marry, the wedding taking place in the villa's principal salon on 1 March 1881.