Meulhuis Cottage
Cosy Self-catering Cottage for a Couple
A traditional cottage situated on the banks of the Dwars Rivier, ideal for a couple. (Read the Story of Meulhuis below).
The cosy cottage has only 2 rooms; an open plan living area and a bedroom.
The bedroom has a double bed and bathroom with a shower and a toilet.
The living room / kitchen is open plan, with an inside braai / fireplace in the lounge.
The kitchen is well equipped with a fridge, microwave, 2 plate stove, kettle and all the necessary crockery, cutlery and utensils.
Outside is a braai area where you can enjoy the sound of the river and the beautiful stars.
Bedding and towels are included.
Firewood is available for sale on the farm and home-made jams in season.
Wi-Fi available at the office 24/7.
Regret no dogs or other pets allowed.
The Story of Meulhuis, told by Therese Louw
Meulhuis is situated next to the Dwarsrivier, and around 1914 it housed a water mill - therefore the Afrikaans name Meulhuis (meaning mill house, or house with a mill).
My grandfather, Mias Nieuwoudt (Mias Wittetjies), was a farmer and businessman, and he built the mill so farmers in the area could use it to grind their wheat. He also had a farm shop on the farm.
The people from Wupperthal came with donkey carts packed with wheat, rooibos tea and animal hides, through the Krakadouw mountain valleys to our farm to trade and shop, Clanwilliam being still another 13km away. They came with their produce and traded it for coffee, sugar, nuts and bolts, and the mill was used to grind their wheat.
The mill was made entirely from cedar wood - from the wheel to the gears that ran the mill. In 1950 the mill and Meulhuis stopped being used and it became storage for the family’s coffins, which was also made of cedar wood.
In the late 1970’s, after my grandfather died, my dad, Herman Nieuwoudt, donated the cedar wood gears and mill wheel to Worcester Kleinplasie Open Air Museum where a replica of the original water mill was designed and built by renowned architect Gawie Fagan.
Around the same time Meulhuis became a worker’s house where many families came and went.
In 2013 a fire on the farm (sparked by lightning in the mountains) almost destroyed the house. Luckily it was saved by the efforts of our neighbors who came to help with the fire that destroyed many parts of the farm.
At the end of 2015 we restored the building to become a cosy guest cottage for two, next to the natural stream that was used to turn the mill wheel, day in and day out for many years.