South Africa's oldest and continuously run hotel, Oude Werf in Church Street, Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, is owned by the Petousis hotelier family, who also own another, equally historic hotel - the Vineyard Hotel, in Claremont, Cape Town.
The Vineyard was once home to Lady Anne Barnard and her husband Andrew, colonial secretary to the governor of the Cape of Good Hope.
Oude Werf was built on the site of the first church built in Stellenbosch, and the Petousis family have history and hospitality in their veins. In 1968, they purchased Trocadero, just around the corner from the first Dutch church in Cape Town, from South African Breweries.
They demolished it to create the 107-room Townhouse Hotel, which was highly acclaimed for 50 years but sadly shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ARCHITECTURAL CHARM
The Petousis family are descendants of the Albertyn family, who were among the congregants of Stellenbosch's first church, built between 1686 and 1687.
A thatch-roofed building, its bell tower is visible in the earliest known sketch of Stellenbosch from 1710, before the church and much else of the town was twice destroyed by fire.
Though attempts were made to rebuild the church, a new site, in 1770, was chosen at the top of Church Street. Oude Werf takes its name from the 'old churchyard'. You can still see the original foundations, a disinterred grave, and even the remnants of the original pulpit of the first church, under the hotel's restaurant.
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin November 22, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin November 22, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
