Willowmore is considered the northern gateway to the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area and was established in 1856. Accommodation is available at The Willows.
Enjoy an evening of Victorian comfort, stay in the Old Dutch Reformed Rectory. Arrive late afternoon in Willowmore, relax around the pool and enjoy a 3-course meal before heading off to bed.
The accommodation facilities consist of restored or newly built cottages in and around the main house. These cottages situated in the garden are en-suite and equipped with televisions, a nice change after or before two days in the unspoiled rugged, mountainous terrain of the Baviaanskloof.
The Baviaanskloof turn-off is situated ± 4km out of town, on the N9 road leading to Uniondale.
Highlights in and around Willowmore:
Bakers Dam
The dam origins are with the South African Railways needing water to supply their steam engines. When steam was replaced with diesel the dam was taken over by the Willowmore Municipality as the town's primary source of water at the time. Problems with algae in the water resulted in the establishment of an alternative system of interconnected boreholes and fountains on the farm Wanhoop.
Aasvoëlberg ("Vulture Mountain")
The mountain overlooks Willowmore and is one of the few places in the Karoo where coastal fynbos grows. The mountain offers panoramic views of the area and a number of trails offer the hiker the chance to explore the flora, fauna and birdlife of the mountain. The rugged terrain provides even the most experienced mountain biker with exciting and challenging trails. For the adrenalin junky, the mountain lends itself to spectacular para-gliding and adventurous abseiling.
Old Prison
Although converted to a residence some years ago the Old Prison in Willowmore is currently standing empty. Even so it is a worthwhile visit where visitors can see the courtyards, cells, bathrooms and old kitchen where food was prepared for the inmates. The thick wooden doors complete with peepholes as well as the thick bars before the windows clearly reflect the original purpose of the building. A key to enter the building can be obtained from the next-door neighbor.
Schilpadbeen (1st farm proclaimed)
The old homestead on the farm Schilpadbeen is a historical treasure chest and is well worth a visit. Inside the homestead the walls are decorated with murals, sadly very faded after more than a hundred years. The spectacular ceilings are made of yellow wood and the low yellow wood doorframes are typically of the time, forcing an average sized person to stoop when leaving the room. The water rich farm was the first proclaimed farm in the Willowmore District and is currently privately owned. The farm is also mentioned in Anglo Boer War records as a place where Gideon Schemers spent some time during the War. Arrangements to visit the farm can be made via the Tourism office in Willowmore.
Old Dutch Reformed Church Rectory
In 1864, eight years after the establishment of Willowmore, the size of the community justified a Dutch Reformed congregation. Yet before even considering a proper church, a spacious parsonage was erected for the first minister, Ds. P.N. Ham who arrived on the ship Brasilië from Holland. He only stayed for two years, and was superseded by Ds. George Murray, brother of the famous missionary Andrew Murray. He at least got a church, which was inaugurated in 1878.
Originally the parsonage was a single storey dwelling, but because it also had to be used for school classrooms and other functions, it soon became too small. Accordingly, in 1897 they added another floor on top, at a cost of 750 pounds.
These extensions also offered enough overnight space for church members who had to travel from far to attend communion, for at the time such services often lasted for a whole week. To accommodate everybody wooden room dividers were erected where needed.
When a new parsonage was built in 1940, the church decided to give the old place to the local school and they used it as a girl's hostel. Many changes were then made, but luckily nothing structurally that could have marred the beauty of the Victorian architecture.
Still later the old dwelling became a real country boarding house, catering for borders who needed a room and some meals. This venture did not last long, and the place again changed hands, this time to Mr D. Gellman, a Jewish merchant who used it as a store for his union seed, potatoes, skins and other agricultural products.
In the early seventies Sonny Goullee, a surveyor that came from Kenya bought the fairly neglected old dwelling and changed it back into a comfortable and pretty family home. He kept it in good condition, making sure that the unfired clay brick walls, corrugated iron roof, Victorian architectural adornments, yellowwood top storey floor and the other Oregon pine woodwork were always very well maintained.
The old parsonage currently serves as a Guesthouse called the Willows and the wonderful old main building feature lovely furniture pieces and other décor items from a long forgotten era. Stepping inside is like a time warp, for suddenly the atmosphere is distinctly Victorian.
Wonderboom
Two trees of different species have grown together ±10km on N9 to Aberdeen.
