At the beginning of the 19th Century, Durbanville in Cape Town was an outpost known as Pampoenkraal. At that time, the Cape windmills were situated along the Liesbeek and Black Rivers, but with the rising demand for wheat, these mills could not cope. This is almost certainly the reason why Onze Molen was built in what was then an outlying area.
The mill was named when Mr B Brinkworth bought the farm on which it was situated in 1963 and his wife named it Onze Molen. But the mill had fallen into disrepair and in 1983, Brinkworth sold the property to the Natal Building Society. By this time, Onze Molen had been reduced to a four metre high trunk with a corrugated iron roof that provided shelter for labourers on the farm. The NBS researched possible restoration with the help of the National Monuments Council.
The architect for the restoration was JORDAAN & HARTWIG, Cape Town.
Paul Woolley of Daljosaphat Restorations, undertook the restoration. The wooden mechanism of the cap was made in the company's workshop, dismantled, transported to Durbanville and reconstructed on site. The cap was thatched on the ground and the entire structure was hoisted into place by crane.
The restored mill was officially opened in 1986. It is now the proud centre-piece of the Onze Molen Village development.
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All my works are available as high quality prints on non-archival paper or on stretched canvas.
Visit the online gallery here to view my available work.
Place your order
by phone on +27 79 247 7532
by email to gutmansolly@gmail.com
contact me below or inbox me on facebook: Solly Gutman Scratchboard Art
Other prints and a range of lifestyle products are available from Fine Art America - worldwide shipping available.
The mill was named when Mr B Brinkworth bought the farm on which it was situated in 1963 and his wife named it Onze Molen. But the mill had fallen into disrepair and in 1983, Brinkworth sold the property to the Natal Building Society. By this time, Onze Molen had been reduced to a four metre high trunk with a corrugated iron roof that provided shelter for labourers on the farm. The NBS researched possible restoration with the help of the National Monuments Council.
The architect for the restoration was JORDAAN & HARTWIG, Cape Town.
Paul Woolley of Daljosaphat Restorations, undertook the restoration. The wooden mechanism of the cap was made in the company's workshop, dismantled, transported to Durbanville and reconstructed on site. The cap was thatched on the ground and the entire structure was hoisted into place by crane.
The restored mill was officially opened in 1986. It is now the proud centre-piece of the Onze Molen Village development.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
All my works are available as high quality prints on non-archival paper or on stretched canvas.
Visit the online gallery here to view my available work.
Place your order
by phone on +27 79 247 7532
by email to gutmansolly@gmail.com
contact me below or inbox me on facebook: Solly Gutman Scratchboard Art
Other prints and a range of lifestyle products are available from Fine Art America - worldwide shipping available.