Bathurst
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As you draw up to the only four-way stop in the middle of the historic village of Bathurst you will wonder whether you have been transported back in time. This charming village with its historic buildings lining the streets was founded by the British colonial administration in 1820 to be the administrative centre of the Albany district. It was named for the Colonial Secretary of the time, Lord Bathurst. That plan did not last long. Two years later, the Governor of the Cape Colony, Lord Charles Somerset, issued a proclamation to suspend construction of the drostdy (magistracy) and in an instant, Grahamstown, some 42 kms inland, became the administrative centre.
But that was by no means the end of Bathurst. In her book Literary Guide to the Eastern Cape, Jeanette Eves states: "Attractively set amongst farmland and bush-covered hills, it is a place where town and country blend harmoniously." Eve's words were well chosen. Today Bathurst attracts a plethora of people who have chosen a lifestyle that is laidback and easy-going: writers, academics, historians, artists, potters, weavers, book collectors, plant collectors, a maker of cosmetics using essential oils, crafters of all kinds ― urbanites who have relocated into the heart of an agricultural community of pineapple farmers, dairy farmers and an increasing number of game farmers.
In fact, it was just outside Bathurst, from a vantage point known as Thornridge, that the 1820 Settler farms were surveyed. Today the villagers maintain a toposcope which comprises a circle of plaques pointing in all directions. Each plaque gives the distance, the name of a ship with its captain, the names of the families on board with their leader, and an arrow to show the direction in which each party trekked to find its allocation of land.
As you stand high up on the ridge you see farmlands in all directions. On a clear day you can see the sea. It is in this far-flung corner of the Cape Colony, bounded in the east by the Great Fish River, that poor and desperate Englishmen were prepared to brave three months at sea followed by a trek, with very little except a few possessions, a team of oxen and some compatriots, across plains teeming with game, watched by Xhosa warriors, also prepared to risk everything to protect their land, in order to grow a few crops and graze a few cattle on which to eke out a living in a foreign land. The view is breath-taking, and the recognition of the courage, determination and perseveration it must have taken to achieve all this is awe-inspiring. Graveyards dotted on farms and in villages around the Eastern Cape.
But, where there were Englishmen, there was a pub. In the early 1820s one of the settlers, Thomas Hartley, built a forge and a house in Bathurst. By 1832 he had built an inn beside the forge. The inn was highly regarded and, despite the neighbouring forge, the inn's rooms were billed as "Subscription Rooms for Gentlemen". The inn acquired its current name about 100 years later when soldiers from the Royal Air Force were stationed at what is now the 43 Air School, 12kms outside Port Alfred. They decided to name the inn after their local pub in England, thus the Bathurst Inn became the Pig and Whistle (www.pigandwhistle.co.za).
As with most of the Eastern Cape villages and towns, the residents of Bathurst are drawn to an alternative way of living. So they preserve the old buildings. The Methodist church was completed in 1837; while the Anglican Church, built in 1837, is the oldest unaltered church in South Africa. These churches are both national monuments, as is the old water-driven wool mill built by Samuel
Bradshaw in 1821, and fully restored in 1967.
But what of survival today ―schools, hospitals, shopping malls, bright lights, theatres, restaurants?
SEEFF's view is that Bathurst's attraction goes beyond a laidback lifestyle in a village with loads of historic charms. Those looking to buy property, either as a place to live, to retire or invest should consider Bathurst's proximity to the Sunshine coast. Firstly, it is 12kms from Port Alfred and 42 from Grahamstown, where there are Netcare hospitals, distinguished private and public schools, shopping malls, and a range of shops and restaurants to satisfy the bulk of any consumer's needs. For anything more, the two coastal towns of Port Elizabeth and East London are within a comfortable 90 minute drive. For culture vultures, there is Grahamstown with its annual National Arts Festival, Science Fest, the Rhodes music department, an active music society and so much more.
Secondly, SEEFF points out that Bathurst is not negatively affected by the salty atmosphere and the wear and tear it can do to your home, vehicle and other possessions. Bathurst is an ideal small countryside town to invest in whether you are looking to purchase a holiday home or a residential property to put down roots and settle for the long haul. SEEFF has a range of properties for sale to meet your needs: residential plots for new builds, cosy cottages, fixer-uppers, designer-built contemporary homes, farms and farmlands. SEEFF has contacts to help you find what you are looking for.
Wanneer jy tot stilstand kom by die enigste vierrigting stop in die middel van die geskiedkundige dorpie Bathurst, sal jy wonder of jy nie dalk ver teruggevoer is in tyd nie. Die bekoorlike dorpie met sy geskiedkundige geboue is in 1820 deur die Britse koloniale administrasie gestig om die administratiewe sentrum vir die Albanie distrik te wees. Dit is vernoem na die koloniale sekretaris van daardie tyd, Lord Bathurst. Slegs 2 jaar later is die administratiewe sentrum egter, in 'n oogwenk, 42km die binneland in na Grahamstad toe verskuif toe die goewerneur van die Kaapkolonie, Lord Charles Somerset, 'n proklamasie uitgevaardig het dat alle konstruksie aan die drostdy in Bathurst oombliklik gestaak moes word.
Dit het geensins beteken dat dit die einde was van Bathurst nie. In haar boek Literary Guide to the Eastern Cape, skryf Jeanette Eves: "Attractively set amongst farmland and bush covered hills, it is a place where town and country blend harmoniously." Eve het haar woorde goed gekies.
Vandag lok Bathurst 'n oorvloed van mense wat 'n rustige en ontspanne leefstyl verkies; skrywers, akademici, geskiedskrywers, kunstenaars, pottebakkers, wewers, boekversamelaars, plantversamelaars, 'n vervaardiger van skoonheidsmiddels uit essensiële olies, handwerkers van alle soorte - stadsmense wat verhuis het na die hart van 'n landbougemeenskap van pynappel, melk en in toenemende mate wildboere.
Bathurst is ook die plek vanwaar die plase van die 1820 Setlaars uitgemeet is, vanaf 'n uitkykpunt bekend as Thornridge net buite Bathurst. Tot vandag toe onderhou die dorpsmense 'n toposkoop wat bestaan uit 'n sirkel van gedenkplate wat in al die rigtings wys. Elke gedenkplaat dui aan die naam van die skip met sy kaptein, die name van die families aan boord, met hul leier, en 'n pyl wat wys watter afstand en in watter rigting elke groep getrek het om hul toegekende grond te vind.
As jy daar bo op die rand staan, sien jy plase in alle rigtings. As dit 'n helder dag is kan jy tot by die see sien. Dit is in hierdie uithoek van die Kaapkolonie, begrens aan die ooste deur die Groot Visrivier, waar arm en desperate Engelse bereid was om na 3 maande op see en daarna 'n trek met net hul karige besittings, 'n span osse en vergesel van 'n paar landgenote, op vlaktes waar wild in oorvloed voorgekom het en onder die arendsoë van Xhosakrygsmanne wat bereid was om alles in die stryd te werp om hul grond te beskerm, te probeer om 'n paar gewasse te kweek en 'n paar vee aan te hou om sodoende 'n bestaan te maak in 'n vreemde land. Die uitsig is asemrowend en so ook die besef van die moed, deursettingsvermoë en volharding wat dit moes verg om dit te bereik. Begraafplase plek plek op plase is vol grafte van kinders en babas.
Maar waar daar 'n Engelsman is, is daar 'n pub. iI die vroeë 1820s het een van die Setlaars, ene Thomas Hartley, 'n smidswinkel en 'n huis gebou in Bathurst. Teen 1832 het hy 'n herberg langs die smidswinkel gebou. Die herberg is hoog aangeslaan en ten spyte van die aangrensende smidswinkel is die kamers op die rekening aangedui as "Subscription Rooms for Gentlemen".
Die herberg het sy huidige naam eers 100 jaar later gekry toe soldate van die Royal Air Force gehuisves is in wat nou bekend staan as 43 Air School, 12km buite Port Alfred. Hulle het besluit om die herberg op Bathurst te vernoem na hul plaaslike pub in Engeland en gevolglik het die Bathurst Inn die Pig and Whistle (www.pigandwhistle.co.za) geword.
Soos met meeste van die Oos Kaapse dorpe, is die inwoners van Bathurst gelok deur 'n alternatiewe leefstyl. Gevolglik word ou geboue bewaar. Die Metodiste kerk is voltooi in 1837; terwyl die Anglikaans kerk, ook gebou in 1837, die oudste onveranderde kerk in Suid Afrika is.
Hierdie kerke is albei nasionale monumente, asook die water aangedrewe wolmeul wat in 1821 gebou is deur Samuel Bradshaw en ten volle herstel is in 1967.
Vandag oorweeg potensiële kopers die nabyheid en beskikbaarheid van geriewe soos skole, hospitale, winkelsentrums, stadsligte, teaters en restaurante. Dit is SEEFF se mening dat Bathurst se aantreklikheid verder strek as net 'n rustige leefstyl in 'n dorpie met historiese aantreklikhede om van te kies en te keur. Iemand wat 'n woonhuis of 'n aftreehuis wil koop of wat eiendom slegs as 'n belegging wil koop moet Bathurst se nabyheid aan die Sonskynkus in ag neem. Eerstens is dit 12km vanaf Port Aflred en 42km vanaf Grahamstad, waar daar Netcare Hospitale, uitstekende privaat en openbare skole, inkopiesentrums, 'n wye reeks winkels en restaurante is om in meeste behoeftes te voorsien. Vir enige verdere behoeftes is die twee kusstede Port Elizabeth en Oos Londen binne 'n gerieflike 90 minute se ry vanaf die dorp. Vir kultuurvrate is daar Grahamstad met hul jaarlikse Nasionale Kunstefees en Wetenskapsfees.
Daar is die Rhodes musiekdepartement, 'n bedrywige musiekvereniging en soveel meer.
Bathurst is nie blootgestel aan die negatiewe invloed van seelug soos by die kus en die gevolglike verwering van huis, voertuig en ander besittings nie. Bathurst is 'n ideale klein plattelandse dorpie om in te belê of dit nou 'n vakansiehuis of 'n permanente woning is. SEEFF bied 'n reeks eiendomme te koop aan wat aan jou vereistes sal voldoen: residensiële standplase om 'n nuwe huis te bou, ouwêreld plattelandse huise, huise wat reggemaak kan word, luukse argitekontwerpte huise, plase en grond.
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Properties in Bathurst
New31R9,200,0004 Bedroom House For Sale in Newlands4 Beds3.5 Baths2 Parkings223m²New28R1,280,0003 Bedroom Townhouse For Sale in Huttenheights3 Beds2 Baths2 Parkings126m²New14R1,250,0002 Bedroom House For Sale in Rosettenville2 Beds1 Bath1 Parking200m²New43R4,900,0004 Bedroom Freehold For Sale in Greenstone Hill4 Beds3 Baths4 Parkings570m²New11R8,000 pm2 Bedroom Flat To Let in Arboretum2 Beds1 Bath2 ParkingsNew20R8,300 pm3 Bedroom Townhouse To Let in Ivy Park3 Beds2 Baths2 Parkings83m²New12R7,600 pm2 Bedroom Flat To Let in Secunda2 Beds1 Bath1 ParkingNew23R11,900 pm3 Bedroom House To Let in Secunda3 Beds2 Baths2 ParkingsNew10R2,150,0001,097m² Vacant Land For Sale in Fountains EstateNew7R1,899,6221,677m² Vacant Land For Sale in Magna Via IndustrialNew7R1,891,6221,670m² Vacant Land For Sale in Magna Via IndustrialNew6POA6,918.70m² Vacant Land For Sale in MerrivaleNew12R750 pm18m² Storage Unit To Let in Trichardt18m²New15R13,560 pm200m² Warehouse To Let in Vredenburg200m²New12R66,200 pm695m² Building To Let in MelodieOpen695m²New6R15,400 pm986m² Business To Let in Bo-dorp986m²15R13,700,000480m² Lodge For Sale in Dendron480m²20R20,000,00032Ha Farm For Sale in Wellington Rural32R21,970,00025Ha Farm For Sale in Wellington Rural150m²6R50,000 pmFarm To Let in Vaalbank660m²25R16,200,000700m² Restaurant For Sale in Lagoon700m²15R5,075,000494m² Office For Sale in Walvis Bay Central494m²15R6,000,0000.10m² Service Station For Sale in Thornville0.10m²11R3,400,000450m² Business Centre For Sale in Haumannshof49 Lourens streetOpen450m²15R12,130 pm70m² Office To Let in Somerset West Central43 Caledon street70m²16R13,950 pm141m² Retail To Let in WalmerCovered141m²9R24,030 pm110m² Office To Let in Musgrave110m²12R29,000 pm135m² Retail To Let in Windermere135m²New13R650,000295m² Business For Sale in Mapetla5 Pilane Street295m²14R6,350,0001,507m² Industrial Yard For Sale in Alton1,507m²15R5,600,0002,060m² Warehouse For Sale in Kuleka2,060m²6R5,500,0007,500m² Vacant Land For Sale in Industrial SiteNew31R460,000 pm14,000m² Industrial Yard To Let in Kuleka14,000m²12R40,500 pm414m² Industrial Yard To Let in Alton414m²12R20,000 pm103m² Office To Let in Secunda103m²15R36,000 pm350m² Warehouse To Let in Magna Via Industrial350m²21R44,000,0002,076m² Vacant Land For Sale in Kleinmond Central13 Strand street11R1,200,0001,731m² Vacant Land For Sale in Klipriviersoog1,731m²22R4,900,000412m² Investment For Sale in Wellington North412m²25R3,500,000742m² Building For Sale in Fontainebleau742m²12R20,000 pm120m² Building To Let in Fisherhaven67 Medway120m²18R32,000 pm500m² Office To Let in Worcester Central500m²18R77,000 pm424m² Office To Let in Mbabane CBD424m²8R3,000 pm16m² Office To Let in Wellington Central1 Rose Unit 216m²New37From R2,932 Per Night3 Bedroom Self-Catering Duplex in Canals3 Beds2 Baths2 ParkingsNew29From R11,725 Per Night3 Bedroom Self-Catering Duplex in Canals3 Beds2 Baths2 ParkingsNew51From R11,725 Per Night6 Bedroom Self-Catering House in Canals6 Beds3 Baths4 ParkingsNew36From R4,900 Per Night2 Bedroom Self-Catering Apartment in Port St Francis2 Beds2 Baths2 ParkingsNo listings found
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Kenton on Sea & Port AlfredPhone: 046 624 4879Address: Cycad Centre Kenton road Kenton-on-Sea 6191