Only 100 ks from Cape Town, set within the fabled folds of the Breede River valley, tapping into the primordial exuberance of the surrounding Hex River Mountains, Eikehof is a boutique property of 128 hectares. The jewel in the crown is the Old Dutch Homestead, an H-shaped house. Its fancy gable is dated 1841, but it was probably built earlier and tallies with the belief that Lady Anne Barnard stayed there.

Cited by doyen of Cape Dutch buildings Hans Fransman in his book ‘Old Buildings of the Cape’, to be in good condition, a rare compliment, much value lies in a complete set of stinkwood and yellowwood single panel doors. Unsurprisingly, it was designated a National Monument in 1985.

The owners, a Cape Town businessman and his wife, pragmatic idealists, bought this property 14 years ago and used their flair, audacity and imagination to turn it into a many facetted lifestyle venue.

With its cluster of historic cottages and outhouses, Eikehof lights up a multitude of opportunities. “I always kept in mind,” says the owner, “the hundreds of ways it could be used. With its agricultural and residential zoning, there are opportunities for conference centres, leisure rentals, eco tourism, organic farming and even a licensed restaurant.” The hot new wedding venue Bosjes with its eye rolling chapel is only 10 kms away and guest rentals are popular.

Extra land plus enviable borehole water make small-scale farming a possibility and the scenic dam perfect for recreational use. “I have worked it for more than a score of years to get it to this stage and it is now someone else’s turn to finesse it,” says the owner. He adds: “It is a rare opportunity for the right person.” Eikehof farm is for sale.

Specs

• Erf size: 128 ha

Main House: 350m2

• 3 bedrooms en-suite
• 2 living rooms
• Large kitchen with open fireplace

Three self-catering cottages:

• Cottage 1 (120 m2): 1 bedroom en-suite, living room and kitchen
• Cottage 2 (110m2): 2 bedrooms (1 en-suite), 1 toilet, living/dining room and kitchen
• Cottage 3 (45m2): 1 bedroom en-suite, living room and kitchen

Cottage (40m2):

• 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
• 2 worker cottages:
• 4 rooms: 65m2
• 2 rooms: 35 m2

Studio/workshop: 50m2

• Garaging for 3 cars
• Equipment storerooms
• Woodshed
• Covered barn
• Borehole with 15 000 litre capacity
• Storage dam with 50 000 litre capacity
• Zoning: 10 ha – Residential 5 / 118 ha – Agricultural 1
• Opportunity for planning permission for additional dwellings to be built