KZN Photo Record Blog

05 Apr Byrne Valley – Blarney Cottage

Posted at 13:27h in KZN Photo Record Blog

I have just posted up the Blarney Cottage album under - Galleries - Natal farms - Byrne - Blarney Cottage. The cottages are the original of those built by 1850 Byrne Settlers Sophie and Frederick McLeod in 1879. This posting however is an indictment of the...

30 Mar Montrose Farm – Mpomphomeni

Posted at 13:56h in KZN Photo Record Blog

Montrose Farm was expropriated from the Lund family by the Nationalist Government in the 1970's with devastating consequences. The ANC led Government has just adopted a policy of Expropriation without Compensation, which will have much more devastating consequences if followed through. "The more things change...

29 Mar Eden Lassie – Tala valley

Posted at 08:54h in KZN Photo Record Blog

I recently was attending the Alan Paton Book Festival, at Eden Lassie wedding and Conference Centre, in the Tala Valley, where our book "Farmhouses of Old Natal" was being presented. Not having been there, it was good to visit another great functions venue, and meet the...

29 Mar Villa San Souci – Pietermaritzburg

Posted at 08:20h in KZN Photo Record Blog

Many of the traders of old are only now giving way to the new breed of traders. The home Villa San Souci, built in 1884 by John Harwin, was a relative of the founder of Greenacres & Harvey in Durban. John started his trading empire...

26 Mar Dargle – Dargle Farm

Posted at 15:35h in KZN Photo Record Blog

Dargle farmhouse, originally a Boer farm named Buffelshoek was acquired by Thomas Fannin in the 1840, and is one of the older houses in the Dargle valley in the KZN midlands. The original house was replaced by the Dargle cottage which features in the album under...

24 Mar Dargle – Kilgobbin Farm

Posted at 14:57h in KZN Photo Record Blog

Kilgobbin Farm,with its gables looks like a church and in fact Kil means church and Gobbin, is the name of an Irish Saint. Kilgobbin was built in 1875 by Merydyth Fannin, son of Thomas Fannin who came out in the 1840's. Merydyth had made much...

07 Mar Cramond House – Albert Falls

Posted at 13:15h in KZN Photo Record Blog

Cramond House, originally part of a 3063 acre farm, near Albert Falls, has been in the Mackenzie family since 1856. The present home was built in 1900 and retains much the same footprint. The farm is presently owned by Drummond and Bridget Mackenzie, and the house...

25 Feb Underberg – Umzimkulu River Lodge

Posted at 13:14h in KZN Photo Record Blog

Umzimkulu River Lodge , on the banks of the Umzimkulu River, is a mere 22 kilometers from Umzimkulu or about 2 hours drive from Durban. Whether its peace, quiet, and relaxation or maybe canoeing, this is the place to go. The lodge is on the...

25 Feb Adamshurst – Boston Road

Posted at 12:06h in KZN Photo Record Blog

Adamshurst is named after the first owners William and Ellen Adams who received the farm by way of a grant, and the home built in 1881. The home with its two gables, has a wide 36 m passage along its width and crossed by a...

25 Feb Owthorne Farm – Dargle Valley

Posted at 09:14h in KZN Photo Record Blog

Owthorne farm in the Dargle Valley was built in 1882 by Charles William Shaw, but still retains most of the original structure. Further images of this farmhouse can be found under Gallery - Old Natal Farms - Dargle Owthorne. A book featuring this farm and many more...