One of the Boland’s earliest farms has come onto the market in Paarl, offering lifestyle farmers the opportunity to acquire a piece of South African history.
The farm “Rheebokshoogte” is situated at the head of a secluded valley on the northern side of Paarl Mountain, in a scenic location bordering a nature reserve. The 97ha farm has several dwellings, including a national monument. The property is priced at R37 million.
Pam Golding Properties’ (PGP) area manager for Paarl, Surina du Toit, says the demand for lifestyle farms in this area remains consistently high. “As many as 90 percent of our farm buyers are looking for properties like this,” she says.
“For them, the agricultural viability of the land is less important than its ambience and setting. A sense of place and history is key, and properties with old Cape Dutch or Victorian homesteads, mature oak trees and historic outbuildings, are particularly in demand.
These buyers, says Du Toit, are often relocating from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town, and are seeking a slower way of life in a more tranquil setting. “Access to good schools and a secure environment are also leading priorities, but the unique ambience of the property is usually the key criterion.”
Rheebokshoogte was granted by Cape governor Simon van der Stel in 1692, to one Thinus Dirksz van Schalkwyk. Historic records indicate that he was a prosperous farmer and an active hunter. Records show that by 1826 the farm was owned by Petrus Johannes Retief, and that it had 40 000 grape vines. It is also noted that the property was one of the most productive and progressive farms in the area.
Today the property offers an ideal blend of old and new. The original Cape Dutch homestead dating back to the late 17th century is still standing, and has been declared a national monument. Its late holbol-type gable has simple mouldings, and is etched with the initials of the builder and his wife, as well as the plasterer and carpenter. Several original features have been maintained, including the front door, the yellowwood ceiling in the voorhuis, and two wall cupboards.
The H-shaped home covers a total of 316sqm. An original outbuilding has also been incorporated into the more modern, luxurious 1610sqm Cape Dutch homestead which is the main residence on the property, with eight bedrooms and six entertainment rooms. Other buildings include a six-bedroomed home which is currently in use as an administrative office, as well as a small mountain cottage located in a secluded spot on the edge of a dam.
PGP’s MD for the Boland and Overberg regions, Annien Borg, says the farm will appeal to lifestyle buyers “but should they wish to embark on small-scale or niche farming, they will find that the farm has rich, productive soil and a good water supply.”
Due to the extensive accommodation on the property, she says, it could also easily be converted – subject to planning permission - into a corporate headquarters, boutique hotel or health spa.
For more information contact James Visser on 082 578 2161 or 021 871 1480.
Readers' Comments Have a comment about this article? Email us now.
Print
