Oudtshoorn’s buildings – a photo blog

By Roxanne Reid
The Klein Karoo town of Oudtshoorn is best known for the Cango Caves nearby and its heyday during the ostrich feather boom of 1900–1914. Feathers were high-fashion items that fetched enormous prices, bringing wealth that was reflected in the sandstone buildings of the era. Discover some of Oudtshoorn’s buildings in this photo blog. 

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CP Nel Museum

CP Nel Museum, 3 Baron van Rheede Street, 1906

The building that houses Oudtshoorn’s wonderful CP Nel Museum dates back to 1906 and was originally the boys’ high school. The bulk of the collections were donated to the museum by businessman and collector Charles Paul Nel. They include a pharmacist’s shop, a general dealer, a good collection of porcelain, displays of old clothing, musical instruments, weapons, carriages and old cars. If you’re a Pauline Smith fan, this is the place to find out more about her and the places she wrote about.

Le Roux Town House Museum

Le Roux Town House Museum, 46 High Street, 1908

This national monument, built as a town house for the Le Roux family in 1908, is now a satellite of the CP Nel Museum in Oudtshoorn. Back in those days many farmers had a townhouse (dorpshuis) in the nearest settlement so they could stay overnight for nagmaal (communion). These houses were usually simple and basic, but this one was built during the ostrich feather boom and no money was spared. The Le Rouxs entertained some famous people here, including Cecil John Rhodes, the Prince of Wales and the writer H Ryder Haggard.

Arbeitsgenot

Arbeidsgenot at 217 Van Riebeeck Street,1898

Built in 1898, Arbeidgenot, is a simple little cottage with white wooden latticework and a red roof. It was the home of South African author and poet CJ Langenhoven from 1903 until his death in 1932. He wrote stories of Herri the elephant as well as the old South African national anthem Die Stem and is considered to be the father of the Afrikaans language. When his wife died in 1950 she left the house and its contents to the nation and it was opened to the public in 1955. It became a living museum in 1999 and Langenhoven’s ashes were reburied in the garden in 2003.

Dutch Reformed Church parsonage

Dutch Reformed parsonage, 141 High Street, 1881

Designed by architect Otter Hager, the Dutch Reformed pastorie was built in 1881. Today it’s a lovely B&B guesthouse with yellowwood floors, marble fireplaces and sash windows. You can see the room where Reverend George Murray sat around the table with his 16 children.

Synagogue

Synagogue at 83 Baron Van Rheede Street, 1888

The pretty little synagogue was built in 1888. Both the plot and the stones to build it with were donated by Afrikaners in Oudtshoorn. The first rabbi was Myers Woolfson, who worked here for more than 50 years. The synagogue was commonly referred to as the Englische Shul.

Rus in Urbe

Rus in Urbe, 54 Voortrekker Street, 1902

The house was built in 1902 for JA Foster, who went bankrupt in 1914 when the ostrich feather industry crashed. With a Tudor influence, a teak staircase and stained glass windows, it was also known as Foster’s Folly. It was used as a Teachers' Training College from 1915 to 1924, and later as a girl’s hostel. It was declared a national monument in 1991.

Queen’s Hotel

Queen's Hotel, 5 Baron van Rheede Street, 1880

Built in 1880, originally of stone with a thatched roof, the Queen’s Hotel is said to be the third oldest hotel in South Africa still standing. You may think it’s named after the British queen, but the truth is more interesting. Johnny Bawden, one of its owners, headed up the Home Guard during the Anglo Boer War and was awarded the Queen’s Medal, after which the hotel was named. Today it’s a modern hotel with bags of colonial charm.

There are lots of other lovely old sandstone buildings in Oudtshoorn, making a drive or walk around the centre very rewarding. Many of them are in Baron Van Rheede and High Street, which make a good starting point.

Gottland House, 72 Baron van Rheede Street, 1902

171 High Street, late 19th century

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