History
1870
Piet, Jannie and their
other brothers, Abraham and Christiaan, left Stellenbosch in August 1870
to try their luck at the Vaalriver Digging. Good news about the
Kimberley
diamond fields soon caused them to move to
Kimberley
where they experienced unparalleled prosperity. At one stage they even
considered buying all the claims in the Open Mine area. The Marais
brothers bought many farms, including the farm Lanberg, where Piet Marais
settled. Piet farmed industriously with approx. 5000 ostriches as well as
Clydesdale horses.
1890
Langberg (9255 morgen)
was leased on 7 November 1890 to Pieter Johannes Marais for 9 pounds and 5
shillings per annum by the Governer under Her Majesty Queen Victoria,
Queen of Britain and Ireland, in accordance with a lease-hold system. It
was eventually sold for an unknown amount. Pieter, or Lang Piet (ie Tall Piet) Marais was the
eldest of four Marais brothers. At that time Jannie, the youngest was the
owner of the farm Coetzenburg, where the
University
of
Stellenbosch
is
situated today.
1890
The farm school was
built in 1890 and served as a school until 1915, when it was used as a
milk room. It now serves as the bar or "waterhole". Every evening at about
18:30 the old school bell outside the building is rung to summon the
thirsty.
1899
After the Modder River
battle in the Anglo-Boer War, the Boers first occupied the Spytfontein
hills before extending the line to include Magersfontein into their
defences. During the Magersfontein battle their right flank crossed the
railway (the present N12) before ending on some hills near Langberg farm.
On 11 December 1899 a British demonstration along the railway failed to
fool those Boers defending Langberg, and some rode over to Magersfontein
to join in the fight. Located on a small hill next to the N12, an
information panel provides some site information and, for the more
adventurous, a Boer field gun and pom-pom position are worth
exploring.
1902
In 1902 the eccentric
Charles Niehaus of Tulbagh bought Langberg from Piet Marais. Charles
farmed with 600 horses and approx. 6000 sheep. The sheep were so severely
plagued by jackals that Niehaus eventually had to give up the
farm.
1943
On 6 August 1943,
Tienie Mynhardt, grandfather of the current owner, Tienie Neethling,
bought Langberg for the sum om 25 000 pounds. His daughter and her
husband, Polla Neethling, farmed at Langberg from 1948.
1982
Since 1982 Tienie and
his wife, Maritha, have been carrying on the farming at Langberg. He
farmed Bonsmara cattle and now game and olives.
1992
In 1992 Tienie and his
staff started renovating the old stables and farm school.
1995
The project was
completed in 1995, when the Guest House was
opened. |
