Interesting Facts

4.1 Cellar – Mr Tjokkie Stegman, had a talent for good sense of smell, particularly in tasting wine.  He has won a prestige wine tasting competition, hence the several labels featuring on the cellar walls.

4.2  Architect – Clive Donald, according to the building plans, was practicing from, 385 Ridgestraat,  Mucleneuk in Pretoria.  

4.3 Main spiral stair’s timber railing and balustrade history:  according to the story, Isabelle’s dad offered the very precious geelhout timber trusses from his barn to his son Iaw, Tjokkie, on condition that he would replace the timber with a lower grade timber like pine.   

4.4 A glass Milk bottle, dated from the days when milk was delivered to your front door, was found during the recent renovations, labelled:  GEPASTEURISEERDE MELK.  TRANSVAAL MELKERYE (Edms) Bpk.  Geldenhuisweg 13, Malvern Oos.  Foon 25.1235. This bottle would have been left by the construction team from 1973.

4.5 Mayor – Isabelle and Tjokkie Stegman served as the Major’s couple of Kemptonpark from March 1984 – March 1985. 

4.6 The architectural style that the owners picked out for their home, was based on Meerlust wine farm back in 1972.  This is evident in the resemblance of the similar front elevations and look alike Gable types, named the Holbol gable.  I said they made a good choice back then. 

4.7 The adjacent Streets in the area of Terenure are named after family or friends to the Stegman’s.  

Stegman Street is named after the surname of Johannes Nicholas Stegman.

Maire-Louise Street is named after Tjokkie’s sister. 

Able street is named after Johannes Nicholas’s Stegman’s business partner. 

De Villiers Street is named after Tjokkie’s brother.

4.8 De Kat stoep:  Isabelle Stegman was in love with De Kat stoep at the Castle in Cape Town.  She had to have her own Kat stoep.  Why not? A talented builder and plasterer used her pictures and photo’s to create Meerust’s own Kat stoep.  Still standing proud today. 4.9       The Clock tower:  Around the area, several clock towers were found on neighbouring stands.  It is not certain but was most likely built as a garden feature that was associated with Cape Dutch architecture and features.  At Le Chateau Guest House up the road is a majestic clocktower still in use today to announce celebrations. 

The House

The House is based on classical architectural components and typical living spaces and rooms of Cape Dutch Houses in South Africa.  Mr and Mrs Stegman have appointed an architect, Clive Donald, to ensure the house was built to their specific requirements.  Their dream materialised when the house was completed in October 1973. 

In the early 1980’s a few additions were done to the House for the couple’s expectation of running a Guest House with several intriguing elements that would interest guests, such as the wine cellar, a swimming pool and bar area, including a build-in sauna.  These contributed to the Stegmans to become leaders in the hospitality industry in and around Kempton Park during the early 1980’s

The house was called Meerust.  (foto) The name was inspired by its resemblance with the historic Cape Dutch house on Meerlust wine farm, Stellenbosh, in particular the matching “holbol” gables and front elevation.  Closer to home, the street address, 18 Rustig Avenue West, added to the blend, resulting in the perfect name for the Guest House – Meerust.  A friend and neighbour at the time, Nicolette Prins dressed up in a traditional Holland’s outfit and literally poured out champagne on the house’s gable end for the opening ceremony.

The iconic spiral stair’s railing is made of indigenous yellow wood and stink wood.  The timber was sourced from the childhood farm, Rooidraai, outside Adelaide in the Eastern Cape, where Mrs Stegman grew up.  The well-known South African author, F.A. Venter, refers to this farm in one of his best-selling novels, “Geknelde Land”).

When approaching the house, the majestic timber front door creates an impression of strength and admiration.  The carpenter, Harry New, a former colleague of Mrs Isabelle Stegman at Atlas Vliegtuig Korporasie (Atlas Aviation Corporation), had to create it from a mere sketch by the owners.  

The History

The farm Terenure, was situated on Portion 205 of the original farm Zuurfontein.   The farm Terenure belonged to Mr Johannes Nicholas Stegman.  After the township establishment and subdivision of the farmland, Erf 1 and 2 was given to his son, Tjokkie Stegman as a present.  The Cape Dutch House was built in 1973. 

Tjokkie and his wife, Isabelle established the beautiful garden.  Amongst the vegetation and trees are Oak trees and a Cork Oak tree (Quercus suber) including very old Palm trees.   The garden housed several functions and delightful outdoor high tea’s while a game of crocket was played ever so often.

Over the next couple of years, Kempton Park was developing and the Guest House industry growing.  Further Subdivisions followed and land auctions around the area was part of daily business.

In the early 1990’s, the ownership was changed to Mr and Mrs Fick.  Extended family responsibilities changed the dynamics of the house and it was once again reclaimed for the purpose of a private family residence.   

Mr and Mrs Fick quietly enjoyed the uniqueness of the special Cape Dutch house while raising their 2 children.  Their grandmother and Aunt that would occasionally visit from the UK, also had the pleasure of being welcomed by the majestic front door. 

Over the years, the character of the house remained iconic to the area of Terenure.  The new owners, Mr and Mrs Marais, shared a vision to re-instate the House as a Guest House. 

The owners re-design the Ground floor dining and bedroom area, to present a makeover that would be trendy, competitive and recommended to the high standards of the current Guest House industry. 

Renovation and construction started in January 2023 to Meerust Guest House, iconic Cape Duch House in Terenure.  One can only but smile today, looking at the repeating cycle it went through, from family home in 1973, to guest house in 1984, back to family home in 1991 and Guest House all over again. 

The perfect combination of new and old and re-using of materials from the old house, is put together in a delightful way.  It will evoke feelings of happiness, admiration, perseverance and dedication to be able to successfully renovate the old Meerust Guesthouse and re-open doors for guests again in 2024.   

Meerust welcome guests from near and far to walk through the beautiful front door into modern and beautiful settings but being transported back to the hospitality as recognised from the olden days.