Part IX - BLAAUWKLIPPEN Homestead in Stellenbosch, South Africa

Wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas! 

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On Sunday, November 24 of 1985, we were picked up at 10:00 from our Lanzerac Hotel in Stellenbosch. It was Mr. Graham H. Boonzaaier with his Rolls Royce. First he took us to his historic BLAAUWKLIPPEN HOMESTEAD 1789.

Now it is the world famous wine estate BLAAUWKLIPPEN ←just click this hyperlink.

Here, husband Pieter is leaning over the half Dutch door of BLAAUWKLIPPEN

This photo I took of Pieter, standing in front of Mr. Graham H. Boonzaaier's Rolls Royce.

To the left is Mr. Boonzaaier's wife Patricia and their little daughter Libby and Mr. Graham H. Boonzaaier is in the center.

He toured us around Cape Town that day, will show that next!

We owe this gentleman a lot of gratitude as he gave us one of the most memorable tours of our lives!

He was a thinker and a visionary who did work very hard to restore this fine homestead to its 18th century looks.

Here is an extensive Pdf about the history from the beginning. BLAAUWKLIPPEN ←just click it. 

DE BLAAUWE KLIPPEN is Afrikaans, derived from Dutch.

Sadly, Mr. Graham H. Boonzaaier has passed away...

Don't know where Patricia or any of his children are. Maybe some of my readers do know?!

BLAAUWKLIPPEN's elaborate gables c. 1890

On Page 27 of this Pdf there are early 1978 photos being shown, courtesy Mr. Graham H. Boonzaaier.

Mr. Graham H. Boonzaaier shown next to the omnibus, with which visitors are taken on an enchanting ride of the farm.

It also reads: A special word of thanks to Mr. Graham Boonzaaier, who though not well, walked the farm once with me and supplied valuable information on how the buildings were developed during his tenure (1972-1999).

Page 75 shows a photograph of c. 1915 with the huge oak trees in front of the farmstead.

Page 84 mentions FIG 43 During Boonzaaier's ownership, the amount of land put under a variety of wine cultivars, expanded greatly (Boonzaaier c. 1982).

Page 85 mentions in the lower section: With great enthusiasm and a passion for quality and antiques, investor, thinker and visionary Boonzaaier set out to transform DBK (De Blaauwe Klippen) to recapture its proud traditions and heritage. Within a decade he upgraded DBK to one of the premier destinations for tourists to the Western Cape and Stellenbosch. Attractions included the winemaking process and cellar tours, the cheese factory, a museum of Cape country treasures, a deli restaurant, and an old carriage collection par excellence.

Page 87 mentions in the bottom section: By the late 1990s Boonzaaier's health was a major reason for selling the estate to Blaauwklippen Estates.

Page 88 shows the Blaauwklippen Homestead 1789

On page 90 at the top it reads: In June 1979 the lower part of the façade wall above the stoop was stripped (courtesy Graham Boonzaaier).

The other part shows the sash-windows (Room C) from the above drawing with rooms being alphabetized.

Page 91 shows the façade.

Page 92 with some more info about the previous façade.

Hope you enjoyed this piece of history in Stellenbosch.

Stay tuned for more about Cape Town in Part X

Related links:
Part VIII - Stellenbosch, S.A. with its Cape Dutch Architecture | previous post by me
Part VII -  Lanzerac Hotel in Stellenbosch, South Africa | previous post by me
Part VI - Interview at South African Broadcasting Corporation in Joburg | previous post by me
Part V - Tongaat Mushrooms in Bryanston, South Africa | previous post by me
Part IV - INDABA Hotel, Spa & Conference Centre in Bryanston, South Africa | previous post by me
Part III - Highveld Mushrooms in Bryanston, South Africa | previous post by me
Part II - Pretoria and Sandton City, South Africa | previous post by me
Part I - Johannesburg, South Africa | previous post by me
My South Africa Publication Around Husband Pieter's Lectures at Congress | previous post by me