Office Hours
We are open from:
Monday – Thursday: 08:30 – 17:00
Friday: 08:30 – 16:00
Address
Mr. J.A. Foster, M.L.A. (1904), local Oudtshoorn attorney, asked Mr Bullock to design a double storey manor house in 1902. The building was erected in the Tudor-Bethan style with the lower level of local dressed sandstone and the top storey of burned bricks and the inner walls of mesh – plastered panels by Mellville Brown Jnr. Across the central section and at either end, are double-storied verandahs with cast-iron railings. The gables are false – half timbering. The main features of the front elevation are the flight of stone steps and encaustic tiling upon the floor of the front stoep.
The window fan-lights and door panels with the lily motif are of stained glass. In the hallway the ‘dado’ is of teak panelling. A teak staircase with heavy lion-carved posters leads to the top storey. The ceilings and dados are of geometrical papier mÂché pressed patterns. The Municipal valuation in 1907 was £10,500.12.
In 1915 the Teachers’ Training College was founded and in July, 1916 the building was hired for £300 per annum from the Standard Bank out of the insolvent estate of Mr Foster. The building was used for this purpose till 1924.
Later it was used as a Girls’ Hostel for the Commercial School and as school offices.
In 1972 the building was evacuated and rapid decay is taking place. The school committee in co-operation with the local Historical Society and members of the Foundation Simon van der Stel have submitted a petition to the authorities for the conservation, restoration and declaration of the building as a National Monument.
In 1973 the administrator temporarily placed the building on the declaration list.
Mac Laren – Foster
Odn. Courant 20 Sept. 1912
A very pretty wedding was solemnised at St. Jude’s Church, Queenstreet, on Wednesday afternoon, the contracting parties being Mr. John Mac Laren, Sub Manager of the local branch of the National Bank, and Miss Annie C. Foster, second daughter of our fellow citizen and former Member of Parliament, Mr. James Alexander Foster. The sacred edifice, which had been prettily decorated by deft-hands, was as full as it could hold, the officiating Priest being the Venerable Arch deacon Atkinson, who was assisted by the Rev. R. Murray, while Miss Morris presided at the organ. The bride, a great favourite in Oudtshoorn, and who was “given away” by her father, looked perfectly charming.
Both the bride and her mother carried bouquets which were real gems of floral art, and were made by Miss Gussie Van der Spuy. No special invitations had been issued to the wedding, the hospitable parents being of the “all are welcome” class, and after the impressive marriage ceremony had been concluded and the Register signed in the vestry a very large company repaired to Mr. Foster’s fine residence (Foster’s Folly), where the happy pair were duly toasted in bumpers of champagne.
Afterwards they left in Mr. Foster’s motor car for his beach residence at Hartenbosch Strand, near Mossel Bay, where the first part of the Honeymoon will be spent, and from whence they will proceed to Cape Town. The heartiest good wishes of numerous friends accompany them. The wedding presents were numerous and costly.
Deur MARTIENS VAN BART
Die Oudtshoornse Foster-volstruispaleis wat in die terrein van die Hoër Handelskool C.J. Langenhoven op die dorp gelê is en besig was om te verval, gaan ten voile gerestoureer, herbenut en waarskynlik tot nasionale gedenkwaardigheid verklaar word.
Die redding van die herehuis wat uit 1903 dateer en die laaste oorblywende dubbelverdiepinghuis van die bekende Victoriaanse argitek Charles Bullock op Oudtshoorn is, is te danke aan die volharding van die Raad van Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede en die Oudtshoornse tak van die Stigting Simon van der Stel om in die doel te slaag.
Verklaring
Die RNG het pas ‘n persverklaring in die verband uitgereik, wat as volg lui:
“Na aanleiding van ‘n versoekskrif wat die Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede in April 1988 van die Oudtshoorntak van die Stigting Simon van der Stel ontvang het vir die behoud van die sogenaamde Foster-volstruispaleis, ook bekend as Rus-in-Urbe, het die RNG sedertdien omvattende samesprekings met die betrokke instansies en staatsdepartemente gevoer.
Die posisie is bemoeilik deur die toestand van die gebou, die toekomstige benutting daarvan en die feit dat dit binne die terrein van die Hoër Handelskool C.J. Langenhoven gelê is, wat self geen verdere gebruik daarvoor het nie.
Herstelwerk
“Die RNG en die Departement van Plaaslike Bestuur, Behuising en Werke van die Administrasie: Volksraad het op 31 Augustus in beginsel ooreengekom dat die imposante herehuis binnekort weer funksioneel aangewend sal word.
“Noodsaaklike. herstelwerk sal onderneem word en ‘n aankondiging in verband met die toekomstige gebruik van die gebou word later verwag.
“Hiermee is die bewaring en herstel van een van Suid-Afrika se belangrikste volstruispaleise se toekoms hopelik permanent verseker.
Bankrot
“Die gebou is deur die bekende argitek. Charles Bullock, ontwerp en gedurende 1903 en 1904 opgerig as woonhuis vir James Foster. Dit is die enigste oorblywende dubbelverdiepingshuis wat deur Bullock opgerig is.
“Foster was ‘n plaaslike prokureur wat in 1915 bankrot gespeel het weens die insinking van die ekonomie en veral die volstruisveremark van die Klein-Karoo. Die gebou is hierna tot 1924 gebruik as onderwyserskollege en later as meisiekoshuis en administrasiekantoor vir die handelskool. Dit staan sedert 1972 leeg.
Funksioneel
“Die gebou verteenwoordig hoofsaaklik die vroeg-Eduardiaanse boukuns, maar bevat ook elemente uit die Tudor-styl en het tipiese Victoriaanse gietyster-veranda’s. Die gebrandskilderde vensters, kaggels en koperwerk is uitstekende voorbeelde van die Art’Nouveau-styl. “Die Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede verwelkom die nuus dat die gebou binnekort funksioneel aangewend gaan word.
Verklaar
“Dit is nie net ‘n kulturele bate en argitektoniese kleinood vir Oudtshoorn en Suid-Kaapland nie, maar is ‘n uitstekende voorbeeld van die eiesoortige volksboukundige ontwikkeling van argitektuur in Suid-Afrika gedurende die vroeg twintigste eeu.” Die dirakteur van die RNG, mnr. G.S. Hofmeyr, het die hoop uitgesprcek dat Rus-in-Urbe binnekort tot die lys van verklaarde nasionale gedenkwaardighede gevoeg sal kan word.
Bewaringskomitee Oudtshoorn
Posbus 599
OUDTSHOORN
16 Maart 199O
Die Departementshoof
Departement van Plaaslike Bestuur,
Behuising en Werke
Administrasie: Volksraad
Privaatsak X91OJ
KAAPSTAD
8000
Geagte Meneer
FOSTER-HUIS, OUDTSHOORN : OPKNAPPING EN AANWENDING
Ons verwys graag na die samesprekings gehou op 31 Augustus 1989, tussen dr. W.A. Cruywagen, Nasionale Voorsitter, Stigting Simon der Stel en mej. H. du Preez, verteenwordiger RNG; Wes-Kaap waartydens u departement sy verbintenis tot die restourasie en aanwending van Foster-Huis bevestig het.
Die bedrag van R100 0OO.0O is belowe vir die herstel van die balkonne en om die dak waterdig te maak. Hierdie onderneming is herbevestig in ‘n skrywe van 11 Oktober 1989 aan mnr. J.L. Louw, Hoof bestuurder, Klein Karoo Landbou-Kooperasie Oudtshoorn. Voigens genoemde skrywe moet die bewilligde bedrag voor die einde van die huidige boekjaar bestee word. Hierdie onderneming is weer eens op 7 Maart 199O herbevestig tydens ‘n persoonlike onderhoud te Oudtshoorn met mnr. Chris van Niekerk van u departement. Tot op hede is geen merkbare vordering waarneembaar nie behalwe ‘n opmeting gemaak deur mnr. Boshoff, ‘n plaaslike landmeter op 23 Februarie 1990.
Aangesien daar nog net twee weke van hierdie boekjaar oorbly, was ons in verbinding met ons plaaslike L.P., mnr. Arnold de Jager, op Maandag 12 Maart 199O, waarna hy ons in kennis gestel het dat hy hierdie dringende saak met u bespreek het. Hy het ons verseker dat u binne die volgende week met bekwame spoed op ons versoek insake Foster-Huis sal reageer.
Ons wag angstig op ‘n reaksie van u departement m.b.t saak. Terse1fdertyd wi1 ons u graag hartlik bedank steuning, samewerking en sinvolle bydrae in hierdie hierdie verband.
Vir u inligting heg ons u afdruk aan van ‘n persberig gedateer 23 September 1989, waarin mnr. G.S. Hofmeyr van die RNG aangehaal word.
Met vriendelike groete
VOORSITTER
BEWAR1NGSKOMITEE OUDTSHOORN:
STIGTING SIMON V.D. STEL
WET OP NASIONALE GEDENKWAARDIGHEDE,
No. 28 VAN 1969
Kragtens die bevoegdheid my verleen by artikel 10 (1) van die Wet op Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede, 1969 (Wet No. 28 van 1969), verklaar ek, Theodorus Gerhardus Alant, Adjunk-minister van Nasionale Opvoeding, hierby die eiendom in die Bylae hiervan volledig beskryf, tot nasionale gedenkwaardigheid.
BYLAE
DIE EIENDOM, TESAME MET DIE HISTORIESE DUBBELVERDIEPINGHEREHUIS BEKEND AS “RUS IN URBE” DAAROP, IN VOORTREKKERSTRAAT, V OUDTSHOORN.
Beskrywing:
Die eiendom, tesame met die historiese dubbelverdiepingherehuis bekend as “Rus in Urbe” daarop, synde ‘n gedeelte van die restant van Erf 4816, Oudtshoorn (nou bekend as Erf 5398, Gedeelte van Erf 4816, Oudtshoorn), gele� in die munisipaliteit en administratiewe distrik Oudtshoorn en groot 3017 (drieduisend-en-sewentien) vierkante meter, soos aangedui deur die figuur ABCDEF op Landmeterskaart LG 3511/1990, gedateer 12 Julie 1990, geliasseer in die kantoor van die Landmeter-generaal te Kaapstad en op L�er 19/2/068/3 by die Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede te Kaapstad.
Transportakte T4824/1982, gedateer 9 Februarie 1982.
T. G. ALANT, Adjunk-minister van Nasionale Opvoeding.
Gamkaberg is an isolated mountain range in the Little Karoo, lying between the Swartberg and Outeniqua mountains. The Gamka Mountain Nature Reserve (9 428 ha) comprises virtually the entire mountain range and is situated 33 km south-west of Oudtshoorn and 32 km south-east of Calitzdorp. The name Gamka is derived from the Khoikhoi (“Hottentot”) word gami, meaning lion.
The reserve was established in 1974 in order to conserve a local population of endangered Cape mountain zebra and their natural habitat. The terrain is rugged, with mountainous plateaux incised by deep ravines. The main rock formations consist of Table Mountain quartzites and shales, and Bokkeveld sandstone and shales.
The reserve lies between the winter and summer rainfall regions, and experiences gentle soaking rain in winter and thundershowers in summer. The annual rainfall averages 500 mm at the summits and 300 mm on the lower slopes of the mountain. Although summers can be very hot, the moderate climate allows for visiting throughout the year (malaria-free area).
The reserve has four main vegetation types, namely mountain fynbos, arid fynbos, succulent karoo and riverine vegetation. Many interesting plants occur, including the famous golden mimetes. A member of the protea family, this species was discovered in 1988. The rare and endangered Cape mountain zebra, leopard and honey badger occur in the reserve. Other mammals include eland, red hartebeest, grysbok, grey rhebuck, klipspringer, duiker, steenbok, baboon, caracal, and numerous smaller species. Gamka Mountain hosts a wide variety of birds, reptiles and insects.
The reserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Day visitors have access to the information centre, short hikes and picnic and braai facilities. The reserve is also rich in Khoisan rock art and early marine invertebrate fossils. Guided trips to these sites and other places of interest can be arranged if booked in advance.
The Tierkloof bush camp provides rustic accommodation with a gas fridge and stove, lanterns, beds and ablution and braai facilities. Tents can be pitched at Oukraal, which also has a primitive stone shelter, veld toilet and hearth. Firewood is for sale on the reserve. Mountain climbing, hiking, mountain hiking (on certain routes), bird watching and photography may be enjoyed from the overnight sites.
Oukraal Hiking Trail (two days, 23,5 km)
Enjoy this pristine environment on foot. Starting in succulent karoo, a moderately strenuous trail takes hikers through a deep, forested ravine to a fynbos-rich mountain plateau. The Oukraal camp is on this plateau and offers stunning views of the Swartberg and Outeniqua mountain ranges.
ENQUIRIES
The Manager
Gamka Mountain Nature Reserve Private Bag X658
Oudtshoorn 6620
Tel/Fax: +27 44 213 3367
Email: gamkanr@mweb.co.za
RESERVATIONS
Tel: +27 44 874 2184
Email: george@cnc.org.za
Source: Cape Nature Conservation
Gamkaskloof is situated in the heart of the Karoo and is part of the Swartberg Nature Reserve. More commonly, this area is known as “Die Hel.” No one is sure of how this name came to be.
The most popular story told is that of a livestock inspector from Calitzdorp who had to inspect the dipping of sheep during an epidemic in the 1920’s. He is reported to have said, “It’s a helluva place to get into and a helluva place to get out of. We’ll call it Hell.”
The hole in this story is that it was already being referred to as “Die Hel” when Deneys Reits stumbled upon it about 20 years earlier.
On entering Gamkaskloof and observing its beauty one realizes how inappropriate the name really is. More likely it was so named for the very steep sides (Afr. “hellings” referring to gradient) of the kloof.
Gamkaskloof has a rich ecological record, with over 4000 recorded plant species, 153 of the 211 bird species found in the Swartberg and numerous animals, ranging from rare rodents through aardvarks and honey badgers to kudu and leopard. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1997 and has also been declared a Cultural Historical Site.
The San were the first inhabitants of the kloof. Their paintings can be seen in numerous caves. The Khoi later came to the Kloof and clashed with the San who as a result moved out of the Kloof. The first white people to enter the kloof were farmers who, in around 1820, moved from Swellendam to Graaf-Reinet as the Cape Colony moved its frontier post.
Reportedly, the farmers found the route into the kloof by accident, when their cattle broke from the kraal and found a way into the kloof. The farmers followed their tracks and discovered this isolated area and started squatting there. (As with the name, there is more than one story. Another purports that a young boy by the name of Danie Hartman was kidnapped by the Khoi, but managed to escape and reported the fertile and virtually inaccessible valley.)
Many tales have been told regarding the first settlers. Some say they were ranging from tax evaders to horse thieves. The total number of people living there varies with according to sources, but it is believed to have been around 120 with a peak population of about 160.
As with the population, it is unknown when exactly the first people moved into the area.
Daniel Petrus Swanepoel received the first transfer of land in 1833 and it was later granted to him by Governor Sir George Napier in 1841. On 15 April 1841 the land was registered to Gert Johannes Gouws and was bought by Johannes Hendrik Mostert in 1875.
The first discovery of this isolated community was made by chance during the Anglo Boer War, when Deneys Reits, a Boer spy, decided to cross the Swartberg Mountains into the Karoo. He came upon Gamkaskloof and the Mostert and Cordier families. It was very clear that these concealed people knew very little about the civil war and the outside world.
The only way to enter Gamkaskloof is through Swartberg Pass, which is one of the most formidable passes in the world.
Sign board to Die Hel.
This road is not for the fainthearted.
In November 1959 the Divisional Council of Prince Albert received permission from the Administration to start building the road to the kloof, after many years of petitioning from the kloof inhabitants. Koos van Zyl was in charge and with the help of 8 labourers and his bulldozer, completed the road in 1962. It was named after Dr Otto du Plessis, the Administrator of the Cape at that time, who, after a visit had promised the locals that a road would be built.
The road, which they believed would make their lives simpler, turned out to be the beginning of the end for this community. They never foresaw the arrival of tourists and later the construction of the Gamka dam. This shattered the privacy of the remote inhabitants. Children were sent to nearby towns for their education and chose not to return.
Journalists started writing stories of the residents which weren’t always true, exploiting their simplicity. They have also been portrayed as “wild barbarians” who run away from strangers. This was not true and the people of the Gamkaskloof found a way to live in utter isolation, while upholding strong moral standards through their belief in their Maker and hard work alike. They spoke colorful Afrikaans and were sociable people who would always find a reason to get together in celebration.
Telephones were finally installed in 1965, 80 years after the first phone rang in South Africa, removing another bit of the kloofs’ isolation. It was only in the mid 1990’s that Gamkaskloof was added to the national electricity grid.
Piet and Magriet Swanepoel were the last of the original “Kloofers” to move out in 1991. Now one of the Gamkaskloofers, Annetjie Joubert, has returned to the valley and shares tales of the old days with her guests.
www.capenature.co.za
The Little Karoo – Jose Burman
Check In / Check Out
Check In: From 13:00
Check Out: Before 11:00
Earlier or later check-in and/or check-out times can be arranged.
Address
Kandelaarsrus,
Kandelaarsrivier,
Oudtshoorn
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