Tweede Rivier Estate expected to go for R30-million to R50-million at auction

27 May 2015 - 11:09 By NASHIRA DAVIDS
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

A piece of historic paradise is going under the hammer next month.

Tweede Rivier Estate in Somerset West was once part of the esteemed Vergelegen Wine Estate - founded by Willem Adriaan van der Stel, the former governor of the Cape Colony, in 1700.

Christian Stewart, head of auctions and sales for Broll Auctions, said: "Driving through that whole node - Vergelegen, Morgenster and Tweede Rivier - it feels like going back 300 years.'

He said they were expecting between R30-million to R50-million at the public auction, which had already garnered ''great interest''.  

Van der Stel  planted vines and fruit orchards and kept cattle and sheep. But when he returned to Holland Vergelegen - which is a provincial heritage site - was sold and eventually it became the property of Punch and Cynthia Barlow.

Stewart said the Barlows sold Vergelegen to Anglo American in 1987 but they kept Tweede Rivier. In 2009 Tweede Rivier was sold to the present owner.

The Times has established that the is on the market as a result of a divorce and the property is in provisional liquidation.

Tweede Rivier's Cape Dutch manor house boasts a cinema, glass enclosed wine cellar, three large formal rooms - including a summer lounge leading onto the terrace and swimming pool - and a library.  

"In the left wing is the main bedroom suite with a dressing room and his and her bathrooms, plus there are a further five bedroom suites that open onto balconies with sweeping views across the estate,'' said Stewart.

Neighbouring Vergelegen Wine Estate, according to its website, competes "with the top 100 wines of the world and positions''.

It also hosted a secret ANC meeting 23 years ago which was attended by the late Nelson Mandela after his release from prison.

 “The ANC needed a venue where they could have their first caucus meeting after their unbanning,” said Don Tooth, managing director of the estate when interviewed in 2013.

“Most of the senior [ANC] members had only been in the country for days ... and they were struggling to find a venue that was not potentially bugged.”

Another interesting neighbour is the pristine Lourensford Wine Estate, owned one of the country's richest men - billionaire Christo Wiese.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now