Signal Hill is right at the top of Longmarket Street, and will consist of 15 houses in seven different styles with two, three and five bedroom options, ranging in size from 184 m2 to 278 m2 and priced from R4.5 million to R5.5m. Finishes and fittings include gas fireplaces, under-floor heating, DStv and internet access, as well as a recycling area and a landscaped indigenous water-wise garden that includes rain-water collection and grey-water recycling. Each house has direct access from a double garage as well as two guest parking spaces.

Call Mark Upton on 082 890 2888, Louise Maranz on 082 568 8732, Louise Killeen on 083 351 6744 or visit www.signalhillcapetown.co.za.

A massive new Tygerberg suburb is being developed on 87.62 ha of rezoned land between Durbanville and Kraaifontein.

MSP Developments’ Buh-Rein Estate will be a suburb with 3 241 apartments, 133 freestanding homes and 137 townhouses.

Features of this intelligent estate include fibre optic cabling; on-site security with an HD camera network; 24/7 patrol cars and manned guardhouses; 20 parks, multi-purpose sports fields and green zones; more than 2 000 indigenous trees; 10km of jogging and cycling tracks; a shopping centre and a petrol station; a drive-through estate management centre and sports clubhouse. Also planned are a private school, a crèche, a church and a medical facility, as well as a daily transport service to Stellenbosch and Cape Town.

Apartments are priced from R449 900 and townhouses from R849 900. Prices for freestanding homes start from R1 079 900.

For more information on Buh-Rein Estate call 082 511 1115 or 021 801 5400, or visit www.buhreinestate.co.za.

Anne Porter, chairperson of Anne Porter Knight Frank has been mandated to sell 1 300ha of wilderness area in the Anysberg conservation area.

This is a 62 000ha tract of land in the Klein Karoo, the nearest towns of any size being Laingsburg and Touwsrivier. She says the nature reserve offers visitors some of the most striking scenery in the Karoo as well as the chance to view some fascinating animals and plants, and to take part in a variety of recreational activities.

“The scenery includes mountains, gorges, rivers that are sometimes almost dry, and open veld. The vegetation is transitional, which means it falls between mountain fynbos and typical Little Karoo veld.

“The wildlife that can be viewed here include Cape mountain zebra (one of the few places where this type of zebra can be seen), gemsbok, red hartebeest, black backed jackal and caracal. Leopards have been seen still living in the hills but are said to be shy of people.”

The area for sale is as unspoilt as the rest of the wilderness district and, Porter says, can never be developed or commercially farmed because it is a declared wilderness area. However, she says, the owner may be able to establish a safari venue with tents or cottages, offering hikes, riding, mountain bike trails and game viewing but not from vehicles. Opportunities of this kind have been offered in another part of the Anysberg.

“Of particular interest to some are the numerous early settler and San archaeological sites dotted throughout the reserve. Particularly impressive are the San rock paintings which are among the best in Southern Africa and which reveal many aspects of the San social hunting and religious life. As the area in earlier times was inhabited by large herds of elephants, these feature prominently in many of the cave paintings.

“The list price for the entire 1 300ha wilderness is R1.5 million. This sounds ludicrously inexpensive for so large a tract of land but is probably realistic in view of the fact that, as this is a dedicated wilderness area, the land on offer has very limited potential for income generation. Ideally, therefore, it should be bought by a group or a person with a strong interest in conservation and a strong commitment to preserving South Africa’s ecological heritage in this area. It is worth noticing that the Little Karoo and adjacent areas have several successful reserves of this type, including Langeberg West, Mont Eco, Marloth, Buffelspoort, Touwsrivier, Boosmansbos and the grassier reserves.”

Call Anne Porter on 021 671 7120 or 082 554 7944.

A Northern Cape game farm, Imbasa, is for sale through Anne Porter, chief executive of Anne Porter Knight Frank.

She says this is one of South Africa’s premier game and private hunting reserves, with an international client base and a wide variety of game.

The estate lies about 80km south west of Kimberley off the N12, which links Cape Town, Kimberley and Johannesburg. It has almost 2 000ha of land, most of it savannah bushveld and its management has arrangements with other reserves and game farms near it and in the Eastern Cape to allow its guests to visit and hunt there.

“The Imbasa soil conditions, coupled with adequate rainfall and the strict conservation principles on which the estate has always been managed have ensured that the veld and the game here are in excellent condition. No commercial crops are grown on the estate and boreholes, dams and reservoirs powered by windmills or electric power provide water to the animals and the guests year round.”

Thirty two game species are found at Imbasa, including buffalo, giraffe, kudu, eland, gemsbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, zebra, waterbok, blesbok, impala, springbok, ostrich, mountain reedbok, duiker, Barbary sheep, black springbok, lechwe and steenbok.

The estate offers guests hunting at prescribed rates for each animal shot. The lodge also offers twice daily game viewing drives and has the necessary four wheel drive vehicles for this. With over 130 bird species in the area, bird watching here is also renowned worldwide and has attracted some top ornithologists, says Porter.

The thatched roof lodge buildings are laid out in a semi-circle and the facilities include a large dining room, lounge and entertainment area, with a covered stoep, a modern kitchen, seven luxury en suite bedrooms, a spa, a bar, a boma area, a separate bungalow, a manager’s house, an office, staff quarters for four families, a workshop, tanning and storage areas and a game butchery.

Most of the staff live locally and have been trained by Imbasa management. This is for most their only source of income.

Porter says the estate’s proximity to Kimberley can add another dimension to any tourist’s visit.

“Kimberley has a fascinating historic museum, devoted mainly to the diamond mining history of the area. The Big Hole, the largest hand dug excavation in the world, is world famous and its diamond cutting display exhibitions remain as popular as ever. This and other tourist attractions (including some excellent golf courses) make Kimberly well worth a visit, either before or after a stay at Imbasa. In addition, for those with an interest in military history, the guided tours of the Anglo Boer War battlefields in the vicinity can add another dimension to their visit.”

The list price of the property is R25 million, which includes the equipment, vehicles and furniture.

Call Anne Porter on 021 671 7120 or 082 554 7944.

A magnificent wine and fruit farm that traces its history back several centuries is for sale in the heart of Somerset West’s Helderberg Valley.

Hathersage, at the foot of Schapenberg between the Hottentots Holland and Helderberg ranges, occupies over 41ha of what is widely regarded as some of the country’s finest wine-producing land. The farm’s gracious ambience and beautiful natural setting have established it as a sought-after wedding venue, and its young vineyards are also beginning to win praise.

The property is being marketed by Pam Golding Properties at R73.395 million. Alternatively, the farm can be sold in eight separate portions for which subdivision is already approved, according to PGP’s project manager for the sale, Louise Varga.

The subdivided portions vary in size from 1 000 m2 to 19ha, priced between R1.14m and R19.38.

Hathersage was originally part of the Vergelegen estate – one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, established in 1700. Within a decade, the vast original holdings of some 30 000ha had been sub-divided, and this process continued into the 20th century. Hathersage itself was developed in the early 1900s, when renowned artist Edward Roworth bought the property and built its manor house. Roworth was an Englishman who cam to South Africa during the South African War, and he named the farm after his home village of Hathersage in the Derbyshire Peak District. In doing so, he lent the farm a double literary connection, as Hathersage in the UK featured prominently in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, and also has links with the legend of Robin Hood, whose companion Little John is reputed to be buried in Hathersage’s St Michael’s church. The image of this church now appears on the wine labels of Hathersage, Somerset West.

Roworth was renowned for his landscapes and portraits, and his artistic legacy has endured at Hathersage thanks to a series of murals painted in the manor house by his daughter Ivanonia and another famed South African artist, Heinrich von Michaelis.

The Georgian homestead was built in 1920. It consists of an upstairs family wing with five bedrooms and two bathrooms, and sumptuous living areas downstairs, including a hall, dining room, study and lounge with imported teak sash windows and ceilings nearly 6m high. A long veranda overlooks the gardens, and can be enclosed with blinds for the winter months. The kitchen opens onto a separate two-bedroom granny flat with its own kitchen and dining areas, and the yard opens onto a stable block built in the 1700s, which has been converted into a brandy cellar.

Varga says other remnants of the original Vergelegen farm can be found in the gardens, in the form of two 300-year-old pear trees and a number of ancient oaks.

“The farm’s gardens and riverine woods, bisected by the Lourens River, span over 13ha,” she says, “and offer wonderful views of the Hottentots Holland and Helderberg mountains. The woods contain numerous rare trees and indigenous wildlife, and the lawns are sought-after as a summertime picnic venue, as well as hosting a monthly market showcasing local goods, crafts and produce.

“This setting also proves ideal for weddings, small conferences and functions for up to 350 guests, and the farm has numerous support services and buildings for this purpose, including a small chapel, a large marquee and a caterers’ kitchen.”

Wine must have played a part in the farm’s early history, and there is an old cellar on the property dating back to around 1780. However PGP’s MD for the Boland and Overberg regions, Annien Borg, says the vineyards were later converted to orchards, and the farm began producing outstanding fresh produce including yellow peaches and plums.

“Grapes were only reintroduced to the property on an experimental basis in 2004,” she says, “with the crop being sold to neighbouring Vergelegen. But the clear success of this venture has led to the rollout of vineyard activities on a wider scale, to the point where Hathersage now has some 12ha under grape, and its own wine label, which is showing great promise. The terroir is similar to that of Bordeaux – specifically its Medoc district – allowing for elegant wines to be produced from a number of cultivars, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Although only marketed since 2007, several Hathersage wines have already earned four-star ratings in the Platters Guide.”

Call Chris Baker on 083 407 5024 or email chris.baker@pamgolding.co.za.

In the heart of Namaqualand at the foot of the Matzikamma Mountains, lies the historical town of Vanrhynsdorp, where a 1931 historical church property on a 3 000m² stand with a separate 120m² house, a borehole and 100 olive trees is for sale through Seeff, priced at R1.95 million.

“This beautifully restored property would appeal to a buyer who wants to own a piece of history to live in or to convert into a guest house or boutique hotel,” says Seeff Swartland managing director, Simon Mouton.

“The church was built in typical Cape Dutch style in 1931 by the townspeople for the coloured community at a cost of 1,674 pounds,” says Seeff agent, Mientjie Van den Heever. “The first corner stone was laid on September 19 1931 and the first meeting held on December 26.”

The church operated until 1967 when it was abandoned as the coloured community was relocated to Maskamsig as a result of the Group Areas Act. After that, the church stood empty for a year and was then was used as a milk pasteurisation and bottling facility. In 1971, it was bought by a Messrs Barnie Barnard and Simmie Lazarus who converted it into a general store. It later became a supermarket, was vacant for a period and again served as a church from 1996 to 2007.

“Spotting its potential, Mr and Mrs Carruthers bought the property in June 2007 and restored it using only the best quality materials,” says van den Heever.

“Today the church is a 500m² house with a large entertainment space for up to 70 guests and the second 120m² house has two bedrooms. During the flower season, the whole property is surrounded by Namaqualand flowers and it has served as a guest house for visitors who flock to the area.

“The main house has a large 250m² living area, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen with a scullery and a pantry and an enclosed patio, all with wooden floors. There are two garages and outside toilet facilities. The property is zoned for business.”

Vanrhynsdorp is a three hour drive from Cape Town and 30 minutes from pristine beaches. Historical attractions include South African War graves and headquarters, Jan Smuts’ residence, a jailhouse dating back to 1895 and a museum dated 1897.

Call Mientjie van den Heever on 083 643 5588.

Birdsong – a 510 m² home ideally positioned on a 854 m² plot in Upper Claremont, Cape Town – is for sale at R7.95 million, directly from the owner.

The property is in quiet Constance Road, within walking distance of Cavendish Square and the Claremont CBD, as well as leading schools including Herschel Girls School, Western Province Preparatory, the International School, and Springfield Convent, as well as Wynberg Boys and Wynberg Girls schools.

Although centrally situated, there are no noisy highways or busy intersections nearby, and the surrounding upmarket neighbourhood is completely built up, with no vacant plots that could possibly result in undesirable structures in the vicinity.

The four-bedroom family-friendly neo-Georgian house has been expertly renovated with the help of a top architect.

Outdoor features include an established low maintenance garden with a pool, an entertainment area and a brand new gazebo; a double garage with direct access to the house and potential for secure parking for a third vehicle; and staff quarters with a separate entrance.

Indoor features consist of a barbecue and entertainment area; a guest suite; two studies; and a separate scullery and laundry, where sports togs can be dried indoors and out of the way.

For more information or to view the property, call Pamela Westaway on 084 663 3996 or email pamw@mweb.co.za.

When a property owner feels entitled to ask for a rent of R50 000 a month for a Cape Peninsula suburban home, potential tenants are probably limited to major corporates, dual or very large families, multi-millionaires or, possibly, organisations that can, within the strict zoning rules, still ‘work from home’.

Ginny Hill of Anne Porter Knight Frank is looking for some such tenants for an early 20th Century house in Upper Wynberg. Said to have originally been on the well-known carriage route from Cape Town to Simon’s Town and one of the landmark buildings in this area, Hill says the house has great charm and character and is set on a 3 000m2 plot.

“It has four reception rooms, a family room, a library cum study and a breakfast room with French doors opening onto a patio. Features include high decorative ceilings, wood panelled walls, sliding sash windows, a bay window in an area referred to as ‘the ballroom’ as it is so large, several fireplaces, granite work tops in the kitchen, wooden floors (some covered by carpeting) and stained glass insets at various points.

“In its 100 year history, the home is said to have served as a British Army officers’ mess and as a guesthouse and an embassy. It is very well equipped and positioned and could perform similar roles in the future.”

She says the garden is terraced, and there are two garages as well as ample parking.

The 1 206 ha farm is just 24 km outside Prince Albert via tarred road. It has an excellent established infrastructure with considerable further potential for tourism development. The olive yield is around 18 tons a year, producing an average of 4 500 litres of pure cold pressed virgin oil.

The farm has lavish registered water rights – 35 hours a week fullstream – as well as an earth dam and a borehole with a windmill. Twenty-six hectares are under cultivation (olives, almonds and other fruit and nuts) and a further 20 ha are irrigable and arable. All the orchards are irrigated from the dam.

The property includes three dwellings, one of which is a recently-restored historic farm cottage with a distinct Karoo-en-Provence style. The main farmhouse is a large Victorian home, and the third dwelling is a modernised two-bedroom cottage close to the main house.

The state-of-the-art olive press is housed in a restored four-room building, with stainless steel settling tanks, and oil storage vats in a clinically hygienic environment. The olive press serves not only the farm, but also other olive farmers in the district who don’t have their own presses. Next door is a newly-built barn or dry store, which has been designed for easy conversion to an additional double-volume dwelling if required.

Further facilities include four garages, two stables, two storerooms and an office, as well as two, two-bedroom labourer’s cottages with solar heating.

For more information contact Elaine Hurford or Leon de Wit at www.country-estates.co.za or 082 774 1069 (Elaine) and 084 491 5062 (Leon).

Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in the Waterberg, Limpopo is a 2.5 hour drive or a 45 minute flight from Johannesburg making it one of the most accessible premier wilderness reserves in the country, and a an added bonus it is malaria free.

Welgevonden is Dutch for ‘well founded’. This 35 000 ha game sanctuary is home to the big five as well as other animals like giraffe, kudu, impala, wildebeest, red hartebeest, tsessebe, gemsbok, waterbuck, wild dogs, honey badgers, bush pigs, and a variety of birds.

Managing director of Seeff Bela Bela, Loua Boshoff, says there are a very number of exclusive safari lodges at Welgevonden, most of which are limited to 10 guests only and have been built to a strict aesthetic code. Each lodge on Welgevonden is secluded, on its own freehold portion of this vast reserve. Owners and guests can traverse and have free access to the whole unfenced sanctuary.

Boshoff says he recently sold a lodge in Welgevonden for R17.5m to a South African businessman, and now has a newly built 10-bedroom lodge for sale at R17.95m.

“This 2 000 m2 lodge is on its own 500 ha of the reserve. It’s a five star quality bushveld hideaway which is equipped for private, corporate or commercial purposes, with African scenery and excellent game viewing.

“The lodge includes five double luxury chalets, with double sliding doors opening onto private sundecks. The entertaining areas are surrounded by a wooden deck with a pool. Other features include a gourmet kitchen, an office, a wine cellar, a boma and a lapa.”

Call Loua Boshoff on 082 929 4261 or visit www.seeff.com.

Rawsons’ Gerald Romanovsky says this is the first time in 44 years that this property has changed hands.

A Cape Dutch farmhouse dating back to the early 1800s has come onto the market in the Cape Town suburb of Mowbray.

The Richmond Road home was once part of the Bloemendal Estate, on the banks of the Liesbeek River, although the estate has long since been subdivided.

The property has been restored to exacting standards, and is now for sale through Pam Golding Properties at R5.45 million.

Bloemendal Estate originated in the 1790s out of sections of two of the Cape’s oldest and most prominent farms, Liesbeek and Valkenberg. Records show that the estate was granted to one Jan Adriaan van Schoor in 1791, and then transferred to Cornelis Mostert Junior in 1808. He is assumed to be the builder of the Bloemendal homestead and its numerous outbuildings. The estate then changed hands any number of times over the following century. By the early 1900s, it had been subdivided, and the surrounding area had been partially developed into the suburban area today known as Mowbray. The section currently for sale was subdivided as a separate residential property in 1923, and the neighbouring main portion of the estate was purchased by St George’s Grammar School. The school still occupies the main manor house and its surrounding grounds and outbuildings.

PGP’s area manager for the southern suburbs, Howard Markham, says a private survey conducted in 2004 by the Cape Heritage Consultancy identified this home as having outstanding historic, aesthetic and architectural value.

“Early plans of the Bloemendal Estate show that this particular building formed the eastern edge of a central courtyard, close to the main manor house. It had its own formal driveway and a circular landscaped island, indicating that it was an important building on the estate. It is also architecturally remarkably similar to the original manor house. Although a high wall now separates the home from the main estate, it maintains echoes of this architectural relationship, and still has a great deal of charm and historic value. In fact, it has even greater architectural and historic integrity than the main manor house, which was severely damaged by fire in 1942 and had to be partially rebuilt – whereas this property remains essentially unaltered from its original form. The survey also highlighted that, apart from its association with the Bloemendal Estate, the home also has historic value as a fine example of the typical farmhouse-style building erected in the southern suburbs in the early 1800s.”

The house is described as a thatched country cottage with an upper loft level containing two bedrooms with dormer windows. The downstairs section has three reception rooms, including a voorkamer (front room), a music room/library and an open-plan living and dining area, plus a designer kitchen finished in wood and engineered stone.

A separate two-bedroom guest cottage leads off from this area into a water-wise garden with mature oak trees, a saltwater-chlorinated swimming pool and a sheltered patio. The 1 142 m2 property has views of Devil’s Peak, and is protected by an alarm system, burglar bars and automatic gates.

“Virtually invisible from street level, it is extremely private, and you could easily forget you are in the middle of a busy suburban area. The house has been beautifully restored and still bears rich decorative detail and original features such as double-square windows, a stable-door front door with a fanlight, Yellowwood ceiling boards, beams, wooden floors and skirtings,” says Markham.

A penthouse in gentrified Bree Street next to the Fire and Ice Hotel is for sale and comes as an investment ‘with benefits.’

Leyden House has become a firm favourite for photo and film shoots and launches – all bringing in a steady and easy income, says Audrey Matthews, Director of Ronnie Matthews Estates.

“The penthouse spans the entire roof so there are dramatic views through the glass frontage, described by tenant and agent, Robert Van Kampen, as ‘looking like a larger than life landscape painting of Table Mountain.

“In the world’s most popular cities like New York, Paris, London, and Amsterdam, the penthouses are the most expensive properties per square metre. Cape Town is up there in the hierarchy of places to settle and we expect this area to increase exponentially in value. Not quite to the level of New York where a city centre penthouse can cost you around R200 million – affordable only to rock and film starts and captains of industry – but we do expect a substantial increase in value.

“Prices at the V&A have rocketed mostly because of the security, but the CBD is rapidly following suit. A penthouse is particularly secure because of its elevation and Leyden House is also next to a five star hotel with its own security.”

Other features include 400 m2 of decking that wraps around the penthouse with views of Lion’s Head and Signal Hill and a 20 metre lap pool.

Van Kampen says the penthouse is for sale at R9.995 million and it can be rented out at premium rates during the filming season.

“It’s possible to make around R500 000 a year from film and photo shoots and launches,” says van Kampen.

The 400m² sandstone house has four bedrooms, two studies, two bathrooms, a lounge, a dining room, a wide passage, and an open plan kitchen/living room. Original steel ceilings and Oregon pine floors and doors are still in immaculate condition. The house stands on 2¾ erven together with two 100m² guesthouse units, which were initially used by the resident dominees for stabling their cows and horses.

The price is negotiable. Call Mientjie Geyser on 082 329 0239.

With its fresh air and mountain backdrop the relatively undiscovered town of Ladismith on the Garden Route in the Klein Karoo is attracting increased interest, says Masood Husain, area manager for Pam Golding Properties.

“Home buyers looking for a scenic and tranquil haven away from the big cities with a complete lifestyle change or on weekend getaways are finding appealing and affordable options here in Ladismith in the Western Cape,” he says.

Just 78km from Riversdale and the N2, 300km east of Cape Town and 100km west of Oudtshoorn, Ladismith is easily accessible on the N1 through Laingsburg or a good tarred road from the increasingly popular Route 62, a scenic road linking Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

“This is the perfect alternative and contrast to a coastal getaway, as the town is in picturesque, unspoilt countryside in the lap of the Swartberg Mountain range and at the foot of the famed Towerkop mountain, with the World Heritage Site and pass of outstanding beauty, Seweweekspoort is nearby, as well as Hoeko Valley, another scenic area where about 30 percent of South Africa’s apricot exports are grown,” says Husain.

Attractions include the low crime rate and friendly community life, and Ladismith remains a fertile, green oasis that produces everything from wine and brandy to fruit and cheese for world markets. Apart from the Ladismith Eco Festival, the town is also well known for its cycle races including the Seweweekspoort Bike Rally later in the year.

Husain says smallholdings and farms are where most enquiries are channelled from local and overseas buyers, mainly from the UK and Netherlands. There is a good selection of these properties, varying in size from 1.7 ha for a smallholding up to an 8 800 ha game farm, at prices ranging from R385 000 to R16.6 million. At present the strongest demand is in the R1.4/R1.5m price range.

Pam Golding Properties has a wide variety of farms available from game, apricot and mixed fruit, lucerne and olive farms, as well as livestock farms. City dwellers are mostly interested in lifestyle farms and smallholdings.

Vacant land ranges from about 600 m2 to close to 5 000 m2, priced between R120 000 and R500 000. Husain says these stands are ideally suited to private buyers who want to build their dream homes or city getaways, and the larger sites may be of interest to property developers. A 4 832 m2 plot next to the golf course and including part of a dam is for sale for R590 000.

“There is also growing interest in existing homes market in Ladismith, mainly in the R600 000 to R950 000 price range. We have everything from small townhouses to Edwardian/Victorian mansions and even a grand, sprawling ostrich palace. It was formerly owned by an ostrich baron and is well suited to use as a guesthouse. In between there are a variety of small, quaint cottages, suburban houses and relatively modern builds. Prices start from R340 000 for a unit in a cluster complex to R6 million for the ostrich palace. Generally these homes are used as permanent residences by owners or let for the long term,” says Husain.

Ladismith is essentially a small town where almost everything is within walking distance, and it has shops, schools and hospitals as well as other services and facilities. The Towerkop mountain dominates the town, and local folklore has it that a witch, flying overhead, struck the peak with her wand in anger and split it in two as it obstructed her passage over the mountain.

Surrounding towns include Barrydale and Calitzdorp, with the coastal town of Mossel Bay also within reach. Local activities include mountain biking and hiking, and there are a number of restaurants, historic guesthouses, mountain retreats, and wine estates. Attractions along the R62 include Ronnie’s Sex Shop, which is a pub popular among locals and travellers.

Call Masood Husain on 028 5511783 or email masood.husain@pamgolding.co.za.

Scottburgh is known to many as a popular holiday destination on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, but most people know little about the history of this town which turns 150 this year.

Scottburgh is on the banks of the Pambinyoni River 58 km south of Durban, and is the oldest town on the South Coast. In 1860 it was surveyed as a township and named in honour of the Lt Governor, John Scott, then Governor of Natal.

Shaka, King of the Zulus, and his entourage were among some of the early visitors to this area. Stopping to rest and drink from the nearby spring, Shaka was distracted by the birds at the mouth of the river beside which the town was later built. He wondered how on earth each bird would know which nest to return to, and named the river Mpanbonyoni or Confuser of birds.

At the turn of the century this shallow river bay was home to a fleet of fishing vessels and was for a time a promising harbour. This was cause for much excitement among the local sugar pioneers eager to transport their harvest to Durban. These pioneers were part of the contingent of Byrne Settlers who arrived in 1850 from Liverpool on board the Henrietta. These settlers included the Crookes brothers, Charles and Samuel, who began to establish sugar farms and then sugar mills – this was the start of an industry that is still one of the economic cornerstones of the South Coast. Scottburgh did eventually boast a port in 1874, with mooring buoys anchored outside the surf line and coasters chartered from ship to shore. Shipping companies emerged, but folded a few years later due to transport rates dropping with the advent of the railway line to the South Coast.

Leon Bakker of Seeff Scottburgh has lived in the town since 2007 and became interested in the town’s history after buying one of the grand old Scottburgh homes, which is now operating as a B&B.

He says the township of Scottburgh was a grid of streets on a map in 1861, and to this day the initial stands that were surveyed are to be found in Scottburgh central. In 1923 the real development of Scottburgh commenced, and property owners formed a voluntary township association, which was instrumental in approaching the Surveyor General and persuading him to relax the conditions on building materials for the construction of houses. This was due to the scarcity of brick-making clay in the area, and in so doing heralded the era of lightly constructed houses, with a minimum cost of £250 a house to be built within two years of anyone acquiring a stand.

Some of these houses are still standing in Scottburgh today, and one such gem built in Allan Street with corrugated iron roof is for sale through Seeff Mid-South Coast at R1.35m.

Today Scottburgh is a thriving coastal resort. Drawn by the year-round tropical climate and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, visitors flock to escape the cooler hinterland and enjoy the beach with its expanse of terraced lawns, inviting pool, super tube, and protected bathing. You can also tee off at the 18-hole Scottburgh Golf Course.

There are a number of retirement villages in the town and apartments and houses that draw investors and other buyers. Prices for property range from R220 000 up to R4.7m – so there is something for every budget.

Michelle Harris, principal of Seeff Mid-South Coast, says areas further north and south of Scottburgh have much to offer, including the town of Umkomaas with the Aliwal Shoal and its coral reefs, sharks and shipwrecks.

“About 15 km inland from Scottburgh is the town of Umzinto, which has a rich history in terms of South African Indian people, who last year celebrated 150 years in South Africa. We have properties here ranging from R450 000 for a house in Umkomaas to R24m for a beach villa on Clansthal Beach. In Umzinto we have land for sale from R120 000 and houses from R230 000 to R3m.”

Harris says there is definitely more interest in the property market at the coast now: “We are starting to get enquiries on higher priced properties -  but sales are still largely taking place at around the R1m mark.”

Call Michelle Harris on 082 903 2556 or email michelleh@seeff.com.