History of the Drostdy Hotel
  • Graaff-Reinet

Last Updated: February 2020

Go Back

Contact Details

Location

  • 30 Kerk Street, Graaff-Reinet 6280

  • Longitude: 24.535704
  • Latitude: -32.252006
  • Map

About History of the Drostdy Hotel

The Old Drostdy Hotel, Graaff-Reinet Circa 1880  History
The Old Drostdy Hotel, Graaff-Reinet Circa 1880  History
The Old Drostdy Hotel, Graaff-Reinet after its conversion to a double storey with a Victorian façade shortly after 1900
The Old Drostdy Hotel, Graaff-Reinet prior to the last renovations History
The Old Drostdy Hotel, Graaff-Reinet prior to the last renovations History
Stretch's Court at the Old Drostdy Hotel, Graaff-Reinet Today History

What is a drostdy? It is the office or residence of a landdrost, a Boer magistrate in a rural district of South Africa prior to the establishment of British administration.

The Old Drostdy in Graaff-Reinet has undergone many changes since construction began in 1804. Designed by Louis Thibault the building was completed in 1806 and serving as an official building it provided accommodation for inter alia such luminaries as Lord Charles Somerset and Sir Rufane Donkin. From 1819 the Old Drostdy was used as a residency for the local magistrate until 1847 when the building together with the surrounding land was sold by public auction to J.F. Ziervogel. After having been sub-divided and changed hands a number of times the building was bought by Henry Kromm in 1878 and converted into a hotel which became known as Kromm’s Drostdy Hotel,

Shortly after 1900 it was altered extensively into a double story building with a Victorian façade. After Kromm sold it in 1903 it continued as a hotel under various owners until its acquisition in 1975 by Historical Homes of South Africa when the building was restored and with the adjacent Stretch’s Court converted into an upmarket hotel.

Stretch’s Court named after the Government Land Surveyor at Graaff Reinet Capt. Lennox Stretch was sold to Capt. Stretch in 1855 who divided the original stand into allotments in 1858 and sold to various buyers among who were coloured labourers. Behind the Drostdy as a narrow pathway which led from Bourke Street to Church Street through the gardens of the Drostdy and with the subdivision of the allotments became a cul-de-sac. Later when the Drostdy building was first converted into a hotel this passage remained. This “vrygang” or “free street” was the original name given to the present Stretch’s Court. The “vrygang” refers to the free passage or “freed” slaves living there.

The families who occupied the cottages in Stretch’s Court were eventually removed under the Group arrears Act of 1960 to Kroonvale and in 1966 Historical Homes of South Africa acquired the properties and today the cottages with their unique architectural styles form a quaint street scene which forms part of the Drostdy Hotel.

© Graaff Reinet Tourism - 2024 | Links | List / Manage Your Business | History of the Drostdy Hotel

Website Design and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) by ZAWebs Designs | Web Hosting by ZAWebs Hosting