DE RUST VICTORIAN MANSION
Declared by the Republic of South Africa to be a National Monument because of its natural beauty and importance in history.
The mansion consists of; Rosewood fireplaces, Italian tiles, Brook lace, Steel pressed ceilings, wooden handrails etc., which were imported from Europe to compliment the Victorian style main building.
Description of building(s) and garden:
1.1 ORIGINAL SANDSTONE BUILDING
A Sandstone building was the first to be erected to store the materials imported from Europe. The building has an attic that was later utilized to manufacture all kinds of cheese by a cheese maker from Holland. Sandstone was gathered from the nearby Suikerbosrand and dressed to create the building blocks.
1.2 MAIN DWELLING
The Victorian style house is
divided into 3 sections, via the huge T-Shape passage, which is 17.6m in length and 1.8m in width, covered with Italian tiles.
Section 1:
1.2.1. Rare animal trophies decorate the walls of the main entrance hall. The main door has inserts with colorful lead glass.
1.2.2. Ladies lounge consists of a Rosewood fireplace, bay-view window, fragile pelmets, as well as decorative wallpaper.
1.2.3. Bedroom number 1 – Children’s room which is smaller than the other bedrooms.
1.2.4. Bedroom number 2 – Huge main bedroom with bay window next to the bathroom.
1.2.5. A unique bath and porcelain toilet, with an old system, complete the huge bathroom that serves the complete house.
1.2.6. Bedroom number 3 – Children’s room.
Section 2:
1.2.7. The men’s lounge contains a Rosewood fireplace and an outside door decorated with led glass inserts which exits on the veranda.
1.2.8. Bedroom number 4 - Guest bedroom.
1.2.9. Bedroom number 5 - Guest bedroom.
1.2.10. Main lounge being the most spacious room in the house contains a Rosewood fireplace with a door that also exists onto the veranda.
Section 3:
1.2.11. The kitchen contains a Wellstood anthracite stove.
1.2.12. Adjacent to the kitchen, the pantry has lots of storage space.
1.2.13. The breakfast room has a Rosewood fireplace.
1.2.14. The study/office exits onto the veranda.
The veranda surrounds the house with cast iron trellis (from Glasgow) topped with a wooden handrail and brook lace to decorate the appearance. Men’s and ladies toilets, as well as a laundry room, were added to the veranda to serve the main house and garden.
1.3 family quarters
1.3.1. Joined to the main dwelling by a courtyard, comprises of 2 (two) bedrooms, 1 ½bathrooms (2 toilets, 1 bath and 2 showers) kitchen, lounge; veranda, cellar where wine cheese and dried fruit were stocked, currently utilized as a lounge.
1.4 STABLES AND OUTBUILDINGS
Situated +/- 50m away from the main dwelling the building harbours 6 (six) units:
1.4.1. Two (2) Units consisting of a veranda bedroom bathroom and open plan living area and kitchen
1.4.2. A single (1) Unit consisting of an attic with balcony kitchen living area bathroom and Bedroom.
1.4.3. Two (2) Units consisting of a veranda open plan living area equipped with a bath toilet and basin and the other with a shower toilet and basin.
1.4.4. A single (1) unit comprises as storeroom that could be converted into a living unit.
1.5 garage
1.5.1. Lock up garage can accommodate Three (3) vehicles.
1.6 open shed
1.6.1. Open sides utilized as storage facility and a Len-to which render parking facility for eight (8) vehicles.
1.8 garden
1.8.1. The established garden comprehends shrubs trees and open lawns to create a park atmosphere. Water provided by three (3) equipped boreholes, delivering 1,200L/Hour, 3.100L/Hour and 12,000L/Hour.
1.8.2. The complete area is surrounded by a 1.8m electric fence, with two (2) motorized entrance gates only accessible by intercom.
1.8.3. Electricity is provided by a 3Phz 25KVA transformer delivering 220V and 380V.
4. Potential and usage
4.1. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Private Companies use the buildings to manufacture films, TV commercials and advertisements.
4.2. Wedding accommodation, preparations, photographs and receptions was hosted through the years.
4.3. Veteran motor clubs visit the property from time to time.
Potential usage:
4.4. An exclusive Hotel & Casino would add value to the area due to the location of the property.
4.5. Restaurant and tea garden would be an option.
4.6. A stately summer home to escape the European winter.
4.7. Tourist venue (near OR Tambo International airport) to host and accommodate tourists en-route to the National Parks and Cape Province which includes Table Mountain and the Kango Caves.
4.8. Health & Beauty Spa
4.9. Guest house and farm stall.
4.10. Spacious enough to host flea/farmer markets on weekends.
4.11. Exclusive old age home.
4.12. Private nursery- and/or school
4.13. Exclusive medical facility
Total Bedrooms – 12
Total Toilets – 11
Total Bathrooms – 6
Total Showers – 6
Roofed car parking (13x vehicles), 300m² roofed open area (another 16x vehicles), which offers a total parking area for up to 29x vehicles.
The total size of the property measures 2,6973ha (6.62 acres).
The above materials and structures were handpicked from Europe by a ship went to Europe by ship. The building materials were delivered to Africa by a ship via the Lourenco Marques Port (Mozambique) and was then transported +/- 550km’s by ox-wagon to the Old Transvaal in the early 1900's.
Truly a monument to see!!!
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