A 300-year-old detached ranch style home in Onder Papegaaiberg is one of a handful of historical properties currently on the market in picturesque Stellenbosch, where unlike other towns and cities in South Africa, selling homes that have seen 10 generations pass through their doors is not an unusual occurrence.
This landmark five bedroom house in Onder Papegaaiberg, Stellenbosch, has three bathrooms, wooden floors and temperature control. It is selling for R2.85 million - click here to view.Stellenbosch is one of the oldest European settlements in South Africa, and as a consequence, several buildings in the centre of the Winelands town are more than 200 years old, and in some cases, have been standing for more than 300 years.
The same can be said for numerous farms that surround the town, some of which were established in the latter half of the 1700s and are still flourishing, working agricultural enterprises today.
Still, historic homes have their positives and their negatives, and can sometimes prove challenging if you plan to renovate.
The Onder Papegaaiberg landmark home is on the market for R2.85 million, and was the original farmhouse in Onder Papegaaiberg, according to Estelle Victor, specialist agent for Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in Stellenbosch.
Another even older property, built 322 years ago, is also for sale in the Stellenbosch surrounds, at a higher asking price of R22 million, as it is a successful and pristinely restored 22 hectare Cape Dutch estate .
Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty farm expert, George Cilliers, says it’s a jewel - the manor house is surrounded by 11 hectares of vines, lemon and guava trees, as well as five additional houses and the historic ‘long house’, which would be an ideal restaurant or wedding venue.
“The remainder of the farm has been developed as an equestrian estate, with a riding centre, 32 stables, numerous paddocks and an adjoining dressage and show jumping arena. This section of the farm also has guest accommodation and seven cottages for farm workers.”
This 22 hectare farm in Stellenbosch is divided into two sections of 11 hectares each. The main house is designed in the traditional Cape Style, surrounded by 4.5 hectares of vineyards, 850 lemon trees and 500 Guava trees. It is on the market for R22 million - click here to view.In the centre of town, in historic Dorp Street, a Georgian beauty is for sale - that at around 200 years old can almost be called a “recent build” compared to the others. The restored sash-windowed, 11 rooms, six bedrooms property is on the market for R12.5 million.
Lew Geffen, Chairman of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, says that while some old properties in Stellenbosch may already have been restored, anybody buying an unrenovated historic home should go into the transaction with open eyes and a fair amount of patience.
“A lot of people are drawn to these old houses because they have so much history, character and enchanting features, but unlike renovating a newer build you can’t just draw up plans and get stuck in.”
Victor agrees, saying listed historical homes can be ‘tricky’ to renovate due to the limited changes that may be made to such homes, and this tends to worry some buyers.
“To comply with the National Heritage Resources Act, anyone who wants to modify historical structures must apply to Heritage Western Cape for a permit to do so. A historical structure is defined as a building older than 60 years. The permits address a range of issues from archaeological sites to shipwrecks, but in most cases, with houses it comes down to architecture and whether the changes the owner wants to make are in keeping with the style, or even the façade of the property.”
Geffen says sometimes a specialist architect may be required, but patience is the big thing. “The permit process can take time even if the plans are approved unchanged, but factor in having to go back and forth a couple of times with revisions.
“Restoring a historic home is a labour of love, but if you have your heart set on doing it and you have the time to spend on the detail to make it great, there’s no doubt it’s worth it in the end.”
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