History

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Irene Farm History

Irene Farm has a rich history dating back over 130 years.

We would like to share this story of us with you.

The Beginning
1837 — 1875

Doornkloof

One of the Boer Voortrekkers, Daniel Elardus Erasmus, who left the Cape Colony in the 1830’s to seek economic and political independence in the hinterland, settled in the area on a farm that became known as Doornkloof.

Doornkloof became known as the “kerkplaas” of the district. When Daniel died in 1875 he left the farm to his three sons.

Daniel Elardus Erasmus proclaimed the title deed of the Doornkloof farm

He proclaimed the title deed of the Doornkloof farm in 1838. After Erasmus passed away in 1875 his 5,136 hectare farm was left to his three sons and was divided into three roughly equal portions, between the streams that course through the farm. The area was quiet until after the 1880/1881 war. The history of Doornkloof remains a closed book until the sparkling figure of Nellmapius bursts upon the scene at the end of the 1880s.
1838
1848 — 1854

Kerkplaas

From about 1848 Doornkloof became the "Kerkplaas" for the district; that is the place where the itinerant Dominee from time to time performed baptisms, marriages and so on and conducted nagtmaal. The original farmstead was close to where the Full Gospel Church now stands; unfortunately nothing remains of the house. Doornkloof was the Kerkplaas for several years and was the centre of the Boer community until Elandspoort superceded it in 1854 and became Pretoria in 1855.

Rev Andrew Murray visited the farm Doornkloof and christened 129 babies, heard the profession of faith of 29 new members of the Reformed Church and the next day, 29 December 1849, celebrated communion.

Elandspoort is named Pretoria

The village on the Neighbouring farm Elandspoort is named Pretoria.
1855
1875

Elardus's Sons owned Doornkloof

When Daniel Elardus Erasmus died in 1875 he left his farm Doornkloof to his three sons, Daniel Jacobus Elardus, Stephanus Petrus and Michiel Christiaan Elardus, and they remained the owners until 1889. Daniel Erasmus was known as "Rooi Danie" and was a member of the Transvaal Volksraad.

First Anglo-Boer War: Boer attack Carbineers

First Anglo-Boer War As part of the First Boer War, the battle for Rooihuiskraal (Afrikaans for "Red House Kraal") took place in 1881 here. A Boer commando under the leadership of D.J. Erasmus Jr defeated Colonel Gildea, or "The Blasted Colonel" as they called him, the British Officer Commanding of the Pretoria Garrison. After the cornered British garrison tried to escape to Natal to join General George Pomeroy Colley, the Boers entrenched themselves behind a stone wall surrounding the animal stockade, and wounded the colonel in the backside, who was standing upright in his stirrups. They galloped away to the south under cover of'dead" ground and circled round to the east where they were joined by reinforcements coming from the DoornkloofLaager situated a few kilometres to the east (where Irene now is).

The enlarged Boer force then moved northwards and westwards and, trom the cover of some thorn trees, attacked the already mauled Carbineers on their left flan~ and in the rear. This counter-attack led by Veldkornet Erasmus, comIng from such an unexpected quarter, caused the Carbineers to give way in their centre thus enabling the Boers to come within four hundred metres of th~ gUl~s and the m~in column: Lieut. Colonel Gildea attempted to restore the sItuation by sendIng the Engmeers, led by Lieut. Commeline, to the assistance of the Carbineers.
February 13, 1881
1889 — 1893

Alois Hugo Nellmapius

Fourteen years later Alois Hugo Nellmapius – a businessman who established a transport business between Lorenzo Marques and Pilgrims Rest, as well as a Gin & Whisky factory, the first gun powder factory in South Africa and the Irene Lime works – two thirds of the Doornkloof farm from Daniel and Stephanus Erasmus their two thirds of the farm Doornkloof, i.e. the Northern and Western portions; Michiel retained his South-Eastern third until he died in 1896 when it passed to his son Elardus.

Nellmapius had "grandiose schemes for the development of his pet project - the model farm at Irene" He began to experiment with different crops, but not limiting himself to agriculture, he also established a "stock farm and dairy, for which he imported seventy Friesland cows."

Irene Nellmapius

Nellmapius had a little daughter named "Irene" and when he bought his portions of the farm Doornkloof he had them re-surveyed into three parts and he named the central portion after his daughter who was about two years old at the time. The word Irene is derived from a Greek word meaning Peace.
1889
1887-1961

Irene Nellmapius 1887-1961

Irene Violet NelImapius was born on 21st May, 1887; her mother was Johanna Cornelia (Hoffman). Irene married Mr. Hendrik Jacobus Smit, a Johannesburg stockbroker, in 1910. After Mr. Smit retired they farmed on the well-known farm Moorddrift near Potgietersrus where Irene lived until she was unfortunately killed in a motor accident on 30th January, 1961. Her two sons now farm on Moorddrift. She used to pronounce her name with three syllables: I-ree-nee. Her father, A.H. Nellmapius, named his farm after his daughter Irene.

President Paul Kruger

A. H. Nellmapius used to entertain lavishly at Irene and amongst his guests were many well-known personalities including President Kruger. When Kruger became President in 1883 he was made welcome in the Presidential home whenever he chose to call.
1889 — 1896
1889 — 1896

The Farm House

He built a fine farmhouse designed by the architect de Zwaan and he erected impressive stables and a dairy which are in good condition to this day. Nellmapius was engaged in laying out a large garden with the assistance of his manager, a German horticulturalist named Fuchs, when he died on 27th July, 1893. It is believed that he spent £80,000 in developing his property at Irene which was known as the Irene Estate and which was sold out of his estate after his death.

Dr Arnold Theiler

One of these specialists was a young Swiss veterinary surgeon, Dr Arnold Theiler, who became the stock manager and veterinary surgeon on Irene farm. He later became a state veterinary surgeon and established the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Laboratory and Teaching Hospital just north of Pretoria.

Theiler gives a detailed description of the farm in one of his letters home: ‘Imagine an undulating terrain’, he writes, ‘through the lowest part of which a river flows. Everything, as far as the eye can reach, is part of the farm ... All is grass and only grass, with trees only along the river. Yet there are also gardens, practically wild, in which peaches, oranges, pomegranates, figs, almonds etc. grow.’
1889 — 1896
1890

The Barn

The “Barn” restaurant is situated in one of the original farm barns, built in approximately 1890 and used as a farm barn for over 100 years. The Barn looks out onto the dairy stable, also built in 1890. It is still used today to feed the cows of the Irene Estate milking herd, as it has been every day for over 100 years.

Staff on the farm

The staff on the farm were categorised into farmers and artisans, of which the farmers were sub-categorised as stablehands and field workers. The artisans included two joiners and carpenters, a blacksmith, a saddler, a painter, a butter-maker, a storekeeper, a butcher, and a coachman and driver.

Nellmapius decided to build his homestead about one kilometre west of where the Irene Country Club is today. The Erasmus brothers built a water-furrow that was fed by a dam upstream toward Rietvlei. The year after Nellmapius’s arrival he extended the water-furrow, which he used to irrigate his orchards, gardens and vegetable gardens using gravity.
1892
1892

Nellmapius Specialist: Horticulturist and Farm Manager J. Fuchs known as Hans

Another of these specialists was his first horticulturist Richard Wills Adlam, the "curator of the Pietermaritzburg Botanical Gardens in 1889" His successor was the German born J. Fuchs , or ‘Hans’ as he was known on the farm. He "was both horticulturist and farm manager until 1895. Fuchs was responsible for the design and landscaping of the gardens. "He built two arched glass-houses [which], by their design, fit snugly and artistically under the canopy of great trees" Fuchs was responsible for the landscaping and design of the gardens, with their "sweeping lawns, shady avenues and brightly coloured flower beds", and created a retreat for the Nellmapius family where they could escape from the troubles of the business world.

This was what the Irene Estate was famous for, and not as a grazing farm: "Irene was known to the public as an extensive flower, vegetable, and fruit garden, and for the perfection of its amenities. Twenty thousand fruit trees and a hundred thousand forest-trees having been planted."

Nellmapius created a forest of trees

The forest trees consisted of imported timbers from America, Australia and North Africa. The trees that shaded the garden around the house were stinkwood, swamp mahogany, loquats, imbuia, jacaranda from South America, cypress from the Himalayas, and a camphor tree from Japan. Fuchs brought several saplings of forest trees and shrubs indigenous to Europe.

The abundance of fruit trees and shrubs were endless as explains: "Irrigation canals, bordered with hedges of quince, pear, apple, plum and peach, criss-crossed the lands." To imagine such a landscape where most of the trees bear fruit makes one think that Nellmapius created a Garden of Eden for himself and his family. The farm became an "investment and experimental" for Nellmapius.
1892
1892

Flora Shaw from the London Newspaper "The Times visited the farm

Flora Shaw from the London newspaper ‘The Times’ visited the farm in late 1892 and wrote the following about her experience of the Irene Estate: The hill-tops have been planted with European trees - pine, oak, chestnut, etc., the lower slopes are clothed with vines, and in the valleys plantations of oranges and lemons alternate with American, Australian and African timber. There is hardly a crop from tea to turnips which I did not see in the course of a long morning’s drive. Nellmapius was of the opinion that the Highveld had incredibly fertile soil and that it was not being utilised to its full potential, as had been thought possible up until that time.

He felt that the soil could yield a greater variety of products, such as wheat, rye, barley and oats, as well as maize, millet and sorghum, all of which were found to thrive in the Highveld soil. The experimental farm became a refuge for Nellmapius, who in the early mornings could be found "tenderly inspecting his young orange trees and carefully going through the immense stables where horses, cows and even wild animals knew him intimately".

Livestock on the farm - services include a wide offering

The livestock on the Irene Estate was as diverse as the workers on the farm. Nellmapius imported Friesland cows for the dairy production on the farm. He was also famous for preserving antelope species that were being decimated by hunters in the Lowveld. Among these species of antelope were eland, springbuck and zebra. Nellmapius experimented with taming the eland and zebra on his farm to work as coach animals. It was known that when travelling through the town of Pretoria from his Albert House residence he would commute on a cart pulled by four zebra. The eland proved to be more difficult to convince to serve any function other than being an alternative to cattle on the farm. 

The grazing capability was perfect during the wet summer months but "incapable of supporting its ordinary stock of cattle during winter". The seventy Friesland cows which made up the dairy herd received artificial feeding to sustain their dairy production capabilities. He continues, however, that the farm as "an extensive flower, vegetable and fruit garden" was an "unqualified success". Nellmapius advertised this service in his paper during 1893, which reads as follows: Families and hotels can arrange for a regular supply of choice and forced vegetables in and out of season. Especially hothouse cucumbers, tomatoes, bleached celery, etc. can be had throughout the whole winter. Also fresh butter, sweet cream, evaporated fruit, finest fruit, vinegar salad oil, hams, bacon, lard and sausages.
1892
1893

First train arrives at the newly built Irene Train Station

Nellmapius and guests

A. H. Nellmapius and his guests at Irene in 1893. Nellmapius (who died in the same year), standing third from left, and next to him (with hat) J. S. Marais (Auditor-General). Seated (left to right): Christiaan Joubert (Head of the Dept. of Mines), Genl. N. J. Smit, J. N. Boshoff (TreasurerGeneral). Ninth (front row), with panama hat: Leo Weinthal (Editor of "The Press").
1892
July 28, 
1893

Nellmapius passed away

Nellmapius "was not to see the full fruition of his great efforts at Irene". He caught a cold in the winter of 1893, which became much worse by the middle of July of that year. He had also developed a dangerous skin disease on his head, and by the 25th his condition was critical. On the night of the 27th of July his temperature suddenly rose, and at eight o’clock on the morning of July 28 he passed away. "The short, spectacular Nellmapius era had ended".

Irene Estate goes on auction

The Estate of Nellmapius was advertised in the press to be sold at an auction in Church Square. The press notice preceding the auction described the house as "substantially built, containing six rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, two pantries, two wine cellars, etc. water laid throughout, surrounded by verandah".
1895
1896

Irene Estate sold

The Irene Estate was sold for a mere £21 500 and the buyer was J. A. van der Byl, acting as agent for Eckstein’s and Lewis and Marks. Including stock and movables, auction fees and transfer fees, the final price came to about £26 000. Bought for £40 000 seven years previously by Nellmapius, who had spent another fortune developing it.

Johannes Albertus van der Byl becomes new owner of Irene Farm

Having been told by Sir Percy FitzPatrick that the Irene Estate was for sale Johannes Albertus van der Byl came up from the Cape to see it in 1895 and, having inspected it, decided to buy it. When he brought his family to Irene his son, Alexander Henry, was eight years old. They came from Nachwacht near Bredasdorp where J. A. van der Byl had been responsible for preserving the very rare Bontebok from extinction. At Irene he proceeded to build up a dairy herd and set about improving the property by constructing a number of water furrows and dams and by developing the limeworks. He also kept ostriches and Wildebeest and several species of antelope and gamebirds.
1896
1896

A well educated man

Johannes Albertus ‘Bertie’ van der Byl was born on the farm Elsenburg near Stellenbosch in 1856. He received his education at Victoria College on the Island of Jersey, between France and the United Kingdom. "Intelligent, full of vitality, fun and common sense, Bertie rapidly made a name for himself as an efficient and popular farmer" The first two years at the Irene Estate were favourable for Bertie financially, and the greatest profit came from the Estate’s building lime that was sold to the public. Interestingly enough, the second most profitable sector of the estate was the garden, which sold "strawberries, fruit, flowers and seedlings to the Johannesburg and Pretoria markets".

Louis Joel Hack - founder of Hack's Stores Ltd., Irene

Louis Joel Hack came to Irene in 1898 and established Hack's Stores near to the railway station. He and his family have provided Irene's shopping facilities for the last 65 years. Louis Hack lived in the old house on Plot No. 1 at the crossroads until he died in 1943; the house has since been rebuilt. David Hack is now in charge of the business on the site of the old shop, but in buildings which were rebuilt in 1952.
1898
1899

The Anglo-Boer War

The advent of the war of 1899-1902 put a stop to development. The battle for Pretoria in June 1900, which was hardly a battle at all, began with a skirmish near Irene, where upon Lord Roberts decided to outflank the main defences to the South of Pretoria by following a route roughly along the Hennops River and then entering Pretoria from the West. After the capture of Pretoria one of the regiments which were encamped at Irene was the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. 

A strong point was constructed on LimeworksHill, and a fort was built on top.of Cornwall Hill, so named after the regiment. These Cornishmen were excellent stone-workers and the fort still stands having been constructed with rough-hewn chert blocks without the use of mortar. Four Casuarina trees planted at the Officers' Mess are still growing on the slope to the East of Irene Station. When Deneys Reitz was on commando with the Boers they once raided the British lines near Pretoria and, despite the investment of the area, crossed the railway line at Irene.

The Duke of Cornwall, builds a British ford on Irene's highest koppie, Cornwall Hill

1900
1901

The second Boer War breaks out

During the Second Boer War the Irene Concentration Camp was established in 1901 on the farm Doornkloof, as part of the British scorched earth policy, where Boer women and children were housed under extremely poor conditions. At its peak the camp had 5,500 inhabitants, mostly women and children. Between February 1901 and the end of the war in 1902, 1,249 lost their lives here, about 1,000 of them children. The Irene Camp Cemetery is well preserved and contains 576 of the original slate tombstones that were carved by hand in the camp.

Burgher Refugee or Concentration Camps

A Burghers' Refugee Camp (Concentration Camp) of about 5,000 people was sited at Irene on both sides of the river, and relics are still to be found in these areas. The hospital was sited where the hotel site now JS and the cemetery is opposite the Irene School. Many people unfortunately died in the camp due to the spreading of disease. Among those who worked hard for the improvement of conditions was Johanna van Warmelo and another was Major Bruce after whom the street on which the school stands was named. There were also some casualties amongst the soldiers, one of whom was killed when he walked up to one of Mr. van der Byl's Sable Antelope thinking it was tame; alas its sharp horns went through him like a sword! One of the problems in the camp had been the lack of pure water, but a pure supply was found and then there was much less sickness.
1901
1901

Irene Primary School

Irene Primary School was officially opened on 17 May 1901 during the Anglo Boer War. Irene was at that time a concentration camp for Boer women and children. The camp commander saw the need for a school for the children in the camp and so he started Irene Camp School, with two hundred and sixty learners and six educators. The first principal was Mr Liebbrandt.

The Anglo-Boer War ends

October 11, 1899 – May 31, 1902
1902
1902

Irene Village is created by J.A. van der Byl

After the peace Mr. van der Byl set about rehabilitating the area and in 1902; a Police Station was established and Irene Township was laid out with 337 one-acre erven. Development started at the Southern end near the railway station; the station was at the end of Nellmapius Drive which was then known as Station Road, but the name was recently changed as the station had been moved further to the North in the 1930's. The new township's opening was advertised in the very first issue of the Rand Daily Mail on 21st September, 1902, and it was described as the Parktown of Pretoria! In 1902, as soon as the war was over, Berite established the Irene township to "assure the outlet for the milk produced by his dairy herd" The township was laid out with 337 one-acre erven, and the development started at the south-western corner close to the station.

Irene Farm becomes home to the Government Tree Nursery

In October 1903 the British Government started their tree nursery at Irene. The nursery rapidly became the most important of some half-dozen in the Transvaal, and lasted until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. Bertie and his son were responsible for many of the planted trees on the farm; the beautiful avenues of oaks along the river and around the homestead were planted with their own hands. Another of the species they planted was the Honey Locust Tree, "with its clusters of dark red thorns and honeyed pods, which are so much enjoyed by the farm pigs and cattle"
1903
1904

The establishment of the first hotel in Irene

Irene Homes

Our facility was founded in 1902 when the Bishop of the Anglican Church in Pretoria asked the Sisters of the Community of St Mary the Virgin in Wantage, England to open a House of Mercy to care for women and girls who were abandoned and in difficult situations.
1904
1908

General Jan Christian Smuts buys the last third of the farm Doornkloof still belonging to the Erasmus Family

General Jan Christian Smuts bought a third of the original Doornkloof farm in 1908 and needing a home for his growing family, bought for £300, the wood and iron building which had served as the Officers Mess of the British Forces in Middelburg during the Anglo-Boer War, and transported it to the site at Doornkloof. He had it dismantled and transported to Irene where it was re-erected as his farmhouse, and the billiard room became his famous library; the house became known as "Doornkloof", and the General lived there until he died on 11th September, 1950. He always preferred to stay there rather than in the Prime Minister's official residence in Pretoria. Many famous statesmen, politicians, scientists and even a llumber of reigning monarchs visited him there. At about the same time as he was building his house at Irene he was busily engaged in the negotiations which led to the creation of the Union of South Africa out of four separate' countries, the beginnings of the building of our South African nation.

Irene Homes to current premises

Irene Homes relocated to its current premises in Irene and expanded its services to accommodate women, their children and the elderly.
1909
1911

Police Dog Training Camp

Also at about this time the Government established a forestry nursery where the Irene Club now is: and there was a police dog training camp on the East side of the railway line below the Aloe Koppie.

The establishment of Irene Golf Course and Club

In 1912 J. A. van der Byl established a nine-hole golf course South of Irene village. For a number of years the Club House was the small thatched building which still stands at the bottom end of King Street; its thatched walls have been removed. After the first world war the course was extended to eighteen holes and, the Forestry Department having left, the forester's cottage was converted into the Club House which is used to this day although the old building has been extended.
1912
1912

Irene Estate: Silo being filled

Irene Estate: Threshing Mealies

1912
1912

Irene Estate: Original Barn

Irene Estate: Van der Byl Family on their way to church

1912
1914

Irene Estate: Ostrich Camp

Irene Estate: Farm House

1918
1921

9th Irene Troop established

9th Irene Troop can trace it's roots back to 1921 (Although we are rather certain that we did exist before then). Our current scarf was registered with the SASA in about 1950 and we have been in our scout hall since 1958. We have a proud history of many springboks, and of quickly rising in the ranks at Kontiki (The annual endurance raft "race" at Murry Park in Springs, South Africa). In 1999 we were placed 97th out of 100 teams at Kontiki, in 2000 we rose to somewhere in the 50's, in 2001 we were somewhere in the 20's, and in 2002 we won Kontiki! Since then we have consistently been in the top 10 teams at Kontiki.

Tragedy hits Irene Estate

When the First World War broke out Irene was still a small hamlet with not many inhabitants, but several of them, including General Smuts and A. H. van der Byl, went on active service in German West and German East Africa. The South African Air Force was formed not long after the war and from that day Irene has always been closely associated with the Air Force and the Airways, from its inception as many of the personnel of both live in Irene which is close to Zwartkops and Waterkloof Air Stations and to Grand Central and Wonderboom Airfields and to Jan Smuts Airport. An early tragedy occurred in 1922 when Captain Lawrence van der Byl was killed in a flying accident at Irene.
1922
1923

Ethel van der Byl

Ethel van der Byl lays the foundation stone of the Irene Village Hall

Irene School

At this time the school has grown to 31 learners and Mr R.E. Schormann was appointed the principal of this fast growning school.
1927
1927 — 1963

Mr R.E. Schormann retire after 36 and a half years of being principal at the Irene School

History was made at the end of the 1963 Transvaal school year when a man who has been headmaster of the same school for years retires. He is Mr. R. E.Schormann, who took up the post of pnncIpal at the Irene School in July, 1927, and has been there until today. He was the first male principal of the school, appointed after studying at the University of the Witwatersrand and at the Johannesburg Teachers' Training College. "I was very pleased that I was principal of a parallel-medium school, as this is, where the children of the two language groups can get to know one another," said Mr. Schormann. "Not only do the children learn the second language easier, but they are also able to learn and respect the traditions, customs and outlook of the other language group." In his lifetime, Mr. Schormann has seen Irene grow from a small village into a major residential area.

Mr R.E. Schormann

"When I arrived here Irene was a very small place. There were only 31 children at the school. They came mainly from the village itself and the surrounding farms. Their parents were either farmers or civil servants who worked in Pretoria." "Lyttelton just did not exist. There was one house just opposite the railway building. The area did not develop because there were no water supplies. There was also no Waterkloof air base; just open veld and farms," he said. Although he is retiring as principal of the school, Mr. Schormann hopes that he will be able to continue teaching in another school. "I feel so active and I could still be of great value as a teacher," he said. A farewell function for the retiring headmaster was held in the Irene Village hall on December 18. Both parents and ex-pupils was present.
1927 — 1963
1929 — 1933

Depression Years

Irene grew slowly and steadily during the period between the two world wars. The depression years of 1929-1933 were alleviated to some extent by the construction of the large Rietvlei Dam near Irene on the Eastern boundary of the farm Doornkloof; the dam was built to supply Pretoria with domestic water as the springs and boreholes in Pretoria were insufficient for the growing population. In building the dam a whole hillside of rock nearby was quarried to build the wall and in the course of quarrying deep caves in the rock were opened up and some Bushman pots were found. It was not long before another scheme to add to Pretoria's water-supply was embarked upon; this was from the springs at Sterkfontein near Olifantsfontein and further deprived the Hennops River of its sources of supply, so that nowadays there is not very much water flowing normally in the river. Irene during these times was supplied with water from the spring on the golf course. Pretoria again needed more water so during the second world war the first pipe to Pretoria of the Rand Water Board bringing water all the way from the Vaal River was laid; this pipe brought water to Lyttelton and enabled it to develop into the large community it now is, and the same pipe supplies Irene with water.

The Full Gospel Church buys a section of the Irene Farm

1930
1930

Irene footpath

An avenue of white stinkwood trees on the farm which grew naturally through two lines of quince trees planted by Nellmapius.

Hon. Dr. E. G. Jansen

Towards the end of the war the Hon. Dr. E. G. Jansen came to live in Irene and not long thereafter became the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa in which high post he served the country well for a number of years. Mrs. Jansen still lives in Irene and has converted her home at the corner of Pioneer Road and King Street into a fine residence in the old Cape Dutch style.
1933
1935

War Memorial Hill - Cornwall Hill

Shortly after the war D. G. and J. H. van der Byl erected on Cornwall Hill a memorial to their friends who fell in the war; this is a monolith visible for miles around. Standing on a hill on the other side of the valley and known as Koppie Smuts is the obelisk where General Smuts' ashes were strewn; a memorial service is held here each year on the Sunday nearest to the General's birthday at the end of May. In the valley are many of the Transvaal's indigenous trees, particularly thorn trees, and there is little doubt that this part of the valley or "kloof" was the feature which gave the farm its name more than a hundred years ago -- "Doornkloof".


The Maria van Riebeeck Nature Reserve is proclaimed, today known as Rietvlei Dam Reserve

On General Smuts' farm Doornkloof is a magnificent avenue of plane trees; they were planted by Ouma Smuts' brother, Jan Krige and the General's son-in-law, Colonel Weyers, in 1917 and 1918. Colonel Weyers still farms on Doorknloof were there is a large herd of Blesbuck. Buck from this herd were supplied by Colonel Weyers in 1938 to the Pretoria Municipality for the van Riebeeck Nature Reserve at Rietvlei, where there is now a large herd and from these two herds many other herds throughout the Highveld have been propagated and now flourish.
1937
1938

Mr H.W. Gertges

In 1938 Mr. H. W. Gertges (Snr.) settled in Irene and soon became famous. He and his family have done a great deal towards making Irene known throughout the country and even beyond our borders.

Irene Estate: Farm Life - Sheep walking down Nellmapuis Drive

1940
1943

Mr J.A. van der Byl died

In July 1943 J. A. van der Byl died at Irene and is buried in the private cemetery below the Irene Homes.

Queen of England visit Irene

Prime Minister Smuts took huge pride and pleasure being the gallant personal host of the Royal Family. His political responsibilities must have taken second place for many weeks when he was in attendance. He escorted the Royal family up Table Mountain and to the Royal Natal National Park. His wife, Isie Smuts did not accompany him or the Royal Family but they came on a visit to meet Ouma Smuts at Doornklooof. South Africa went to great lengths to commemorate the visit in the medallions mentioned above as well as in special issue stamps.
1947
1950

Rebuiling of Irene Country Club

There are many beautiful trees on the golf course and many of them are indigenous, for example the White Stinkwood, Acacia Caffra, Vaderlandswildt Soetdoring and Blinkblaar or Buffalo Thorn; others have their origin in the Forestry Nursery, particularly the Planes, Deodars and Ashes; and some were planted by J. A. van der Byl, such as the Oaks, Poplars and Weeping Willows. Nellmapius' manager in the early days lived in a cottage in the trees near where the fifteenth green now is, so this is one of the oldest houses in Irene; it was rebuilt by John Henry van der Byl in 1950. Also on the golf course which spreads over some seventy morgen is the Hennops River which is famed for its beauty. Two tributaries, one from Olifantsfontein and one from Rietvlei, unite at the point where the railway bridge crosses the river close to the site of the original Erasmus homestead. A fountain near the eighth green contributes a small flow of clear water soringing out of a fissure in the dolomite.

Irene Estate: Farm life - Farm worker with wagon

A worker on the farm
1950
1950

Irene Estate: Farm life Mrs van der Byl

Mrs. Van der Byl on the farm

Irene Estate: Farm life - Potato Shed

Potato shed on the farm
1950
1950

Irene Estate: Farm life - Pig Sty

The pig stys on the farm

Irene Estate: Farm life - Farm worker with Horse

Farm worker with a horse
1950
1950

Irene Homes caring for the intellectual disable

By the end of the 1950's Irene Homes became a facility for women with intellectual disability only.

Policeman's Cottage

This building was called the Policeman’s Cottage. In 1954 it was moved to its present site and in 1978 it was declared a national monument.
1954
1954

The establishment of the National Dairy Institute, in Irene.

A. H. van der Byl (Henry) was known as one of the most progressive farmers in the Transvaal and won a number of prizes for his farming including one for the best managed farm in the Highveld area. Not long before he died in 1956, having lived in Irene for more than sixty years has succeeded with Cr. F. N. Bonsma in persuading the Government to establish the National Dairy Research Institute on part of his farm at Irene and Pinedene. Already a number of buildings have been erected and it is hoped that the Institute will develop into a world-famous research body designed to benefit the dairy industry of our country and beyond.

A.H. van der Byl died

He was buried with his father in the family cemetry below the Irene Homes.
1956
1956

J.H. van der Byl (John) took over the farm

J. H. van der Byl (John) is now the farmer on the Irene Estate and he has assisted in the promotion of the Transvaal Artificial Insemination Co-Operative which has been established on Jan Smuts Avenue to the East of the railway line under the charge of Dr. A. B. La Grange and is proving of great value to the dairy industry.

The Irene extensions no 1 is built. The areas first flats, shops and garage complex.

In 1958 Extension No. 1 to Irene Township was proclaimed; this included Hack's Stores, the garage and cafe in Vredenburg Buildings and two other erven designed to meet Irene's business requirements. It will probably not be long before Extension No.2 to Irene Township to provide more residential erven is established. Another recent development in Irene was the establishment of the Irene Film Studios near the Irene Homes. The studios have become well-known in the film world and a number of films have been made there. Irene has even been referred to as Little Hollywood!
1958
1959

Lyttelton became known as Verwoerdburg.

Centurion developed from the initial Lyttelton Township that was marked out on the farm Droogegrond in 1904. Lyttelton Manor Extension 1 was established in 1942. These two townships initially resorted under the Peri Urban Board in Pretoria. Centurion was granted City Council status in 1962 as Lyttelton. It was formed by combining the areas of Doornkloof, Irene and Lyttelton.

Beautiful Flowers

Mrs. van der Byl was recorded being the first who grew tulips and other bulbs in South Africa.
1960
1960

Brothers J.H. and D.G. van der Byl continue on the farm

To this end J. H. and D. G. van der Byl are preserving a herd of Blesbuck in a camp near the golf course. These buck are descended from a few obtained from the Van Riebeeck Nature Reserve. The species inhabited the Irene area in the wild state and it is hoped they will continue to thrive and so serve to remind us of the past out of which the happy community at Irene has grown.

Irene Estate: Farm Stables

The Original Barn Building
1960
1960

Irene Estate: Farm Life - Horse Riding

Horse riding on Irene Farm.

Irene Estate: Farm life - Farm worker with Wagon

Farm worker with wagon.
1960
1960

Irene Estate: Farm life - Rowing on the River

Rowing on the Hennops river.

Delivering milk

The farm cart that used to deliver milk to homes in the village.
1960
1961

Irene Estate: Family walking down the Ave of trees

Irene Estate: Farm life - Cows drinking water

1961
1961

Irene Estate: Riding on the Farm

Irene Estate: Van der Byl Family Home

1961
1964

David van der Byl

The Pretoria Jan Smuts Airport motorway (R2) is opened. The Irene Estate's lime works had to be closed down

1974
1990

Irene Estate: Farm Life - In the winter 1

The farm cart that used to deliver milk to homes in the village.

Irene Estate: Farm Life - In the winter 2

1990
1990

Irene Estate: Farm Life - In the winter 3

Irene Estate: Farm Life - Farmyard

1990
1990

Irene Estate: Farm Life - Cow Picture

Cornwall Hill Residental Estate is established.

1998
1998

The Irene Country Lodge is opened.

Irene Country Lodge: Original Hotel - Pool

1998
1998

Irene Country Lodge: Herd of cows in front of the rooms

Irene Country Lodge: Gazebo overlooking the meadows

1998
1998

Irene Country Lodge: Reception

Irene Country Lodge: Bar Lounge

1998
1998

Irene Country Lodge: Patio of bedroom

Irene Country Lodge: Relaxing views

1998
1999

9th Irene Troop moved to 97th of 100 teams at Kontiki

In 1999 we were placed 97th out of 100 teams at Kontiki, in 2000 we rose to somewhere in the 50's, in 2001 we were somewhere in the 20's, and in 2002 we won Kontiki! Since then we have consistently been in the top 10 teams at Kontiki.

The first restaurant is built in the original barn on Irene Farm, The Barn

2003
2006

The Southdowns Country Estate is established

In 1999 we were placed 97th out of 100 teams at Kontiki, in 2000 we rose to somewhere in the 50's, in 2001 we were somewhere in the 20's, and in 2002 we won Kontiki! Since then we have consistently been in the top 10 teams at Kontiki.

Camdeboo Day Spa opens

Camdeboo Day Spa opens at The African Pride Irene Country Lodge.
2009

Contact

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Irene Farm is a cashless environment. All major credit and debit cards are accepted. Only food and beverages purchased at The Deli or Restaurants may be consumed on the farm.

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