136.Montagu Country Hotel
Updated: 14/02/2026
This hotel has changed names over the years but it has been decided to use the name, Montagu Country Hotel as it applies to the current date 2025.
Firstly a little bit of History with help from the Montagu Country Hotel website
Montagu Country Hotel is located on the northwest corner of Bath and Kohler (formerly Smith) Streets. Concrete evidence and dates are difficult to obtain since there was not much evidence recorded in the Montagu Museum’s archives. According to legend, Christiaan Schlacht, of German descent, was the first owner. The building was erected in 1875 and the Architecture was similar to 12 Piet Retief Street, currently called Carrington Villa. This forms part of the current hotel facilities. It was built with Victorian accents of the time. This Victorian hotel was erected where the current Bath Street garden wall is situated. The verandah separated the building from the street. It was the favourite resting place for visitors to the hot springs.
In 1880 the hotel was the centre of a political incident. Paul Kruger, the future president of the Transvaal visited Montagu accompanied by a large entourage, including General Piet Joubert and S.J. du Toit. The residents of Montagu looked forward to this auspicious occasion with great anticipation. At the last minute, the owner, who did not agree with Kruger’s policies, decided not to proceed with the planned grand and opulent function. The local community was not put off by this unexpected last-minute change of plans. The local ladies prepared a sumptuous feast served in Joubert House, 25 Long Street. The dinner service used during this visit, can be seen in the dining room of Joubert House, forming part of the Montagu Museum complex.
Mr. Goldberg
Picture: Montagu Mail
It is then surmised that Mr. Goldberg bought the hotel from Schlacht. He was a popular landlord and truly kind to the community, especially sponsoring sports events. He granted the local “Farmers Football Team” a big silver cup as a trophy. The hotel was later managed by a Ms. Fernandes. She was married to the former owner of the the Baths Hotel. It is said that the blonde lady loved long sleek cars! However, she divorced her husband and subsequently bought the Montagu Country Hotel.
Mr. A. Idelson then bought the hotel from her. It appears that the current Art Deco hotel was
erected, right behind the Victorian original, around 1932. On completion, the original structure
was demolished. There are cashed cheques of NEW HOTEL MONTAGU dated 23 and 26 July,
1941 issued by Standard Bank, displayed in the hotel foyer.
The name: Russell’s New Montagu Hotel, appears frequently in documents and Malcolm Russell son of Alex Russell confirmed that his father and aunt bought the Hotel from Mr. Idelson.
It was consequently owned by the Conradie family and then Piet Nel. Mr. Nel was joined by his niece Carol Gunter who became a co-owner. She spent vast amounts of money on the hotel. Locals can
still remember how two giant palm trees were brought in and transplanted in the garden. One’s
upper crown sadly broke off during this process and the upper section was planted. This tree
however did not grow. The one presently towering high above the present hotel(has been removed for safety reasons 2024) is a tribute to her diligence. She however changed some of the features on the front elevation and effected structural changes, harming the appearance of this Art Deco hotel. These changes did irreparable damage to the stylish front elevation. One example is that the main upper balcony
between the two outer front gables was enclosed to increase room sizes at the expense of
space taken off on the passage side to create en-suite bathrooms.
Mr. Gert Lubbe, owner of d’Ouwe Werf Boutique Hotel in Stellenbosch, acquired the Montagu
Country Hotel on the 1 October 1996 during a liquidation sale. True to the spirit of conservation,
but at the same time being functional in a business environment, he over the 24 years, he owned the hotel contributed substantially to create a rare experience for his guests. He made positive contributions towards the community in many ways and was also the founder of Route 62. Gert sadly passed away from a devastating stroke in November 2019 and the Hotel was bought by PJ and Colene Basson in June 2020. PJ has been the General Manager and Gert’s right-hand man since 1999.
The Mystery Era.
This early picture was found in the Montagu Museum archive. Could this be the very first hotel (Montagu Country Hotel) in Montagu? No mention is made of the De Wits in the Hotels website. We will perhaps never know.
Wording found on the back of the picture above reads as follows: “Montagu Hotel. Alfonso De Wit – Eienaar. Mev. De Wit het die kroeg sleutels gedra en sy het dronkenskap nie toegelaat nie. As iemand meer as twee drankies wou drink dan word hy uitgeskop”.
During 2024 the information below was found amongst other documents in the Montagu Museum archives and further indicates that the De Wit family were indeed in Montagu and ran some form of boarding establishment which could well have been the forerunner of the Montagu Country hotel.
Images: Montagu Museum
Something more about the Goldberg‘s
Maurice and Emma Goldberg with daughter Bessie, who at the time was five years old, bought the Montagu Country Hotel in 1917. The Goldberg’s lived in the hotel until they sold it 2 years later.
Granddaughter Lulu Levine (2018) provided the following from her memories of Montagu as a child with her Grandparents:
“I visited Montagu every June school holidays as a child – always staying at the Montagu Baths hotel as it was called – run by the Idelsons who I think had bought the Montagu Country Hotel from my Granddad – it was one of his friends. I drove with my grandparents – he always immaculate in a suit and felt hat, and grandmother, the most gracious lady also dressed immaculately and always wearing a hat. One of my memories was that we were allowed to take it in turns to ring the gong (Montagu Baths hotel) calling everyone for dinner – strange what we remember. This was long before the fire which destroyed the original hotel. We would walk through the kloof linking the baths to the town every day – mostly we would then walk back along the road, but sometimes they sent a donkey cart for us to come back with.“
Something more about the Idelson era approximately 1928 – 1958
According to the Montagu Country Hotel website (2024) this version on the building was built at its current address of 27 Bath Street in 1875 by Christiaan Schlacht, of German ascent. It features Victorian accents like ornamental wrought-iron Victorian lace.
Kohler Street view of the old hotel. An interesting building (long since demolished) is still visible in this photo. It stands on the corner of Kohler and Piet Retief Streets (top end of white wall). The building has been positively identified (Montagu History F/B page) as the workshop in Montagu of copper-smith Willem Gabriel van As (1858-1918)? (Courtesy The Cape Copper-Smith by Marius le Roux)
Original picture: Montagu Museum. Thank you Lemmy David for the repair to the above picture
A special picture. The hotel standing proud some where in time
Another amazing piece of history the buildings above were buildings next to the old hotel
This picture shows both mr. Russell and mr. Idelson which dates this picture as sometime after 1959.
Pictures: Montagu Museum
Picture: Jaco de Kock Collection
L/R: Mrs. Idelson, Mr. Idelson, Joyce Marine (b. Idelson), Mr Marine, and the grooms mother. The picture was taken in Cape Town.
Picture: Saul Marine
Grandson Saul Marine has the following memories:
The picture above of my mother getting married was at the Gardens synagogue in Cape Town.
My grandfather also had a large American Dodge which he would drive around the circular driveway at the Little Sanctuary where they lived to save him reversing!
He would also entertain the guests on the stoep at the hotel by singing!
The Little Sanctuary was their home towards the latter parts on the sixties and we would stay there when we were in Montagu.
Mr. Idelson replenishes his stock from local wine merchant
Document: Ina van Wyk
From Montagu History Face Book page
Irma Jordaan writes on 12th September 2020
Met die veranderinge wat tans besig is om te gebeur by die Montagu Country Hotel is dit interresant om te sien wat mnr. Nolte, die Burger se korrespondent destyds rapporteer het aan die Burger vir publikasie oor die Hotel:
Op 30.12.1935 berig hy:
Dat die eienaar van die Montagu Hotel (mnr. Idelson) gedurende 1936 van plan is om die hele gebou te verbreek en aansienlik te verander.
Op 18 Februarie 1936 berig hy:
Die grootste ondernemer (soverre dit bouaktiviteite op dorp aangaan) is mnr. Idelson wat reeds die hele agterste gedeelte van die Montagu Hotel gesloop het en nou besig is om dit weer te herbou, terwyl die voorste gedeelte nog net die nodigste huisvesting verskaf.
Op 11 Junie 1936 word berig:
Die Montagu Hotel is onder dak. Hierdie verskynsel het in baie se harte vreugde gebring maar seker die meeste in die eienaar s’n, wat daagliks baie mense laat verbygaan weens gebrek aan plek.
Op 24 September 1936:
Soos die fenieks(Phoenix) het Montagu se nuwe hotel vandag plotseling van agter die oue wat tot op die straat gesloop is, verrys. Vir maande lank het verbygangers al die systraatjies moes inslaan om te sien wat nou werklik agter die half-gesloopte gebou aangaan. Hierdie week het die slopery met geweld begin. Met so ‘n geweld dat stoflae intrek geneem het in al die naburige kantore, maar niemand het gesteurd gelyk nie. Inteendeel, baie van die bedrywigste penlekkers het vir ‘n wyle die pen neergelê om te kyk hoeveel makliker dit is om af te breek as opbou.
Op 16 Oktober 1936:
Hoewel nog nie offisieël geopen nie het die groot saal van die Nuwe Hotel van Montagu gisteraand sy eerste feesgewaad aangehad. Onder ‘n weelderige dekor waarin geel en rooi die bo-toon gevier het, het danspare op die maat van die Worcesterse orkes geswaai.
Die funksie was ‘n onthaal van die Montagu Gholf Klub aan spanne wat gister gewaag het om die plaaslike span aan te val om die Daneel-beker, maar verslae moes terugkeer.
3 Desember 1936:
berig Nolte dat mnr. Idelson die erf aan sy Hotel met die huis waar Dr. Malherbe gebly het, aangekoop het.
Montagu Country Hotel campus around 1940
Picture: John Alexander
Dr. Malherbe’s house which is the annex now known as Carrington Villa
The annex (Carrington Villa) was renovated in 2022
See short video on renovations to Carrington Villa
Pictures/video: Montagu Country Hotel social media sites
The Idelson “off sales” in Bath Street
Mr Idelson’s Off Sales and Corner Lounge Bath Street
Irma Jordaan: Found this in an art shop in Prince Alfred. It is painted by David Kramer’s brother. John Kramer.
Pictures: Montagu Museum
Irene Vosloo Blom (06/04/2024): Badstraat 58. Die huidige eienaar van hierdie gebou is besig om plafonne te vervang, lekkasies te herstel en te verf in ʼn vars, nuwe kleur. Kyk waarop kom ons vanoggend af nadat die plaffon bokant Fynbos se deur verwyder is. ʼn Kosbare stukkie geskiedenis.
Something more about the Russell/Pritchard era 1959 – 1982
Owners 1959: Alex & Alice Russell and Miss Pritchard who was the sister of Alice
During 2024 it was possible to make contact with Malcolm Russell who is the son of Alex & Alice Russell. Malcolm is retired, lives in Cape Town and was very willing to provide information about what he could remember during the time of his parents ownership. Malcolm with some help from his cousin Pam Prichard (93 years old/2024) were able to provide the following snippets of information about another era.
Pictures: Malcolm Russell
Malcolm: Some of my memories during the time my parents and Miss Pritchard owned the hotel. In the above picture my bedroom was on the far side of the first floor overlooking the Volkskas Bank which was in my time in Montagu on the corner of Bath & Kohler streets . I could also see the old Standard Bank (I started work at the Standard Bank on 12 Oct’1964), Lloyds Garage (which stood where the Standard Bank stands today (2024) on the corner of Bath and Kohler streets), Basson & Kie (Basson family) and the Montagu Pharmacy (Jack Plax) were both in the building called Goldblatts Corner opposite the hotel in Bath street. Next to Goldblatts Corner was the Eksekuteurskamer and Divisional Council.
Picture:
Malcolm and Pam:
The Montagu Country Hotel was purchased from Mr. Idelson around 1959 (I was at boarding school in Bloemfontein).
Mr. Idelson owned the Baths Hotel (rebuilt after fire), Little Sanctuary, Corner Lounge Bar & Off-Sales (Bath & Mark Streets).
Miss Pritchard (cousin’s mother) worked for Mr. Idelson at Baths Hotel for a time.
My parents Alec & Alice Russell, together with Beatrice Pritchard, purchased Montagu Hotel.
Picture: Malcolm Russell
Alice Russell wins a trophy at the Montagu Bowls Club. The roll of honour board shows that Alice Russell was more than just a social player at the club.
Pictures: Lea-Anne Alexander
L/R Back: Malcolm Russell, His father Alex and Mr. Prichard. Front L/R: Alice Russell and Beatrice Pritchard
Mrs. Russell lays a wreath at a Montagu Remembrance Day celebration in Montagu
Pictures: Malcolm Russell
Existing Montagu Country Hotel very different to “Old” Montagu Hotel viz.
From Bath Street one could access the bar entrance, bar lounge entrance, main entrance, closed parking garages and off-sales with adjacent travelers viewing room.
The travelers viewing room building indicated with arrow. Commercial travelers visiting Montagu showed their wares in this building.
Picture: Jaco de Kock Collection
The building in Bath Street which was used as the travelers viewing room
Picture: Malcolm Russell
When walking up Kohler street towards Kanonkop one passed the bar entrance (corner of the hotel building), liquor store entrance, non-white Off-Sales, non-white Canteen and general store.
From Piet Retief Street one had access to the back of the hotel grounds, the Annex, undeveloped area and kitchen deliveries were done via this access.
Inside past Reception – secondary lounge (backed onto kitchen), passage to kitchen, two flatlets, tree orchard, thatched roof rondavel and ‘old’ annex.
Inside ground floor – telephone booth, stairs to 1st level, public toilet.
The bar was wooden and shaped like a horse-shoe with fridges and shelves inside. Easy entrances from both streets used for after-work drinks.
Except for the three ‘private suites’ upstairs, other rooms shared ablution facilities until private bathrooms were added.
Residents – a mixture of permanent (elderly/teachers/others) and passing traffic.
Annex – ground floor for permanent residents with communal bathroom – basement staff quarters.
Dining Room – in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner used for various functions such as wedding receptions.
Montagu Country Hotel subsequently sold to Christo Conradie.
Bar entrance (extreme left up the stairs) Kohler Street
Pictures: Transnet Heritage Library Collection
Picture: Malcolm Russell
Dad’s car (Dodge) I got my driver’s licence in this vehicle
The only Russell/Pritchard upgrades were private bathrooms added for three 1st floor suites – previously communal bathrooms each end 1st floor passage.
Current premises eliminated Whites bar, Whites bar lounge, Non-White off-sales (bottle store) and Non-White canteen.
Some incidents when above facilities were still in use:
Patrons setting themselves on fire.
Patrons concerning themselves that the 1967 first heart transplant recipient “white” 53 Louis Washkansky received heart from “coloured” 25 Denise Darvall and was now going to “think like a coloured” – jy voel mos van jou hart.
No drunk female pregnant mothers falling down entrance stairs.
No patrons, bar and canteen becoming involved with physical assaults.
No unruly noise.
Receptions – Dining Room
Wedding for daughter of farmer MP. He banked at Robertson, made no prior arrangements to cash wages cheque at Ashton Agency where I did relief duty, refused to be identified, teller (me) refused to cash his cheque, bank Head Office apologised to “the honourable member”, members family held wedding reception at the hotel, bride’s mother gave strict instructions I was to be available, personally thanked me for “bringing her husband down to size”.
Agency was mornings only – upon return to branch at Montagu, Manager and Accountant waiting in street for me to arrive!!!
Annex:
Home to permanent residents e.g. barman and wife, pharmacy assistant and daughter, fruit inspector, USA archaeologist and wife. USA archaeologist’s excavated Guano Cave, relocated ‘labelled’ rocks to annexe before shipping elsewhere – possibly museum.
Flatlets (2) – temporary home to
Owners of original Dry Cleaners
New owners of Montagu Pharmacy – Gunther, Pat and Ingrid Leidig – and others.
Main Upstairs Rooms accommodate
Owner families
School Teachers
Elderly – some of whom attended school with Hester Fuchs (nee du Toit), the mother of my wife JB Russell.
Passing trade.
Kitchen
Poultry delivered “live and kicking”. Unaware of slaughtering in the back yard, I came across “headless” chickens with staff trying to catch them. Katrien and Leentjies were the two corner stones keeping the kitchen going. They looked after me when I entered the dining room before dinner time, and opened after I had eaten and departed.
The world is actually very small – Cecily Maisel (nee Sandler) mentioned that she was at school with Annalene Stock (daughter of Montagu pharmacy assistant), also Jean Alston (nee Van der Spuy). Jean and JB Russell (my wife) trained as Nurses at Victoria Hospital in Wynberg where Jean was the Head Nurse.
At our 1973 wedding in the DRC Gordons Bay, my Standard Bank Ashton customers advised me that they could have introduced my wife and I years back.
Memories from Montagu History Facebook page
Nelmarie van Zyl: My ma was Mariana wat die haarsalon gehad het, op die hoek van Kerk- en Badstrate. Mev. Russell het elke Vrydag haar hare laat doen. Sy het my vreeslik bederf as klein dogtertjie.
Nela Burger: Die hotel was Aaron Idelson se eerste hotel. Sy vrou was Freda, twee dogters, Joyce en Bernice. Later het hy ook die Montagu Baths Hotel gehad. Ek praat van die jare last 40 tot seker so 70+. Hy was ‘n dik man met ‘n diep stem. Kon mooi bas sing. Mej. Pritchard was sy regterhand. Sy vrou het die kombuis haar eiendom gemaak. Baie besig in die winter vakansie. Toe was Montagu nog ‘n klein dorpie, knus aan die voet van die Langeberg.
Sisters Bernice (L) and Joyce
Picture: Saul Marine
Sulke herinneringe
Erika Janse : Die name “Mr. and Mrs A.J. Russel and Miss Pritchard .. Directors” is bo leesbaar. Ek dink hulle was familie. Ek dink mnr. Idelson het die hotel in 1936 besit. Ek reken dit moes 1965 – 1968 gewees het, toe dit aan mnr. en mev. Russell & mej. Pritchard behoort het.
Melinda Wheeler: Miss Pritchard was mev. Russell se suster. Ek het in Okt. 1977 tot Des. 1977 daar gebly. Dit was heerlik en die Russels & miss Pritchard was baie aangename mense. Hul etes was heerlik, veral Sondae. Toe ek daar gebly het, het ek R76/maand betaal. Dan was dit 3 etes ingesluit! My kamer was in ‘n hoek en die tannie wat oorkant my gewoon het (het haar goed geken) kon saam ‘n badkamer gebruik. Niemand anders mag dit gebruik het nie. Was heerlike dae.
Cecily Maisel: Die hotel was altyd so ‘n instansie. Het julle geweet dat ou mnr. Idelson so ‘n diep bas stem gehad het. Kon regtig mooi sing.
Pieter Swanepoel: Ja Cecily Maisel, jy noem baie name wat baie bekend in ons huis was, my pa het vir baie jare vir Idelson gewerk hy was kroegman daarby Idelson Montagu hotel en later by die bad later jare ook by Avalon hotel- ek onthou meer die staaltjies van die tyd wat hy by die bad hotel van vertel het. Hy moes dikwels met mev. Idelson Kaap toe ry – tydig en ontydig as sy wil gaan wou sy gaan en hy moes sy werk los en ry en Bernice was glo altyd by (glo daardie jare maar ʼn bedorwe brokkie). Ek hoor ou mnr. Idelson het glo so mooi gesing – een aand nadat hy glo al lekker gekuier het, het hy glo iewers heen gery. Later die aand kom roep iemand glo my pa en sê Idelson het sy draai glo bietjie wyd gevat net daar waar jy van die groot pad afdraai na die hotel en op ʼn groot klip of 2 beland. Toe my pa daar kom hang die agterwiele glo in die lig en Ou Idelson ry nog ewe lekker en sing uitvolle bors
Hannes Swanepoel: En ja Piet as ek reg onthou was mr. Idelson se vrou se naam Freda. Ja en by die Bad Hotel het hy ook die papagaai gehad wat soos mr. Idelson kon praat.
Rita Kotze: My pa het vir mnr. Idleson by die Montagu Baths gewerk hy het altyd baie staaltjies vertel van die Idleson’s ek het natuurlik daar tot so 3 jarige dogtertjie grootgeword ons het in een van die bangalows teen die koppie gewoon…daar was ʼn african grey papegaai wat baie lief was vir my hy het my baby genoem ….Idleson en my pa was eintlik boesemvriende alles gedeel met mekaar….ek dink sy vrou se naam was Frieda.
Elise le Roux: Hotel se naam was toe The New Hotel.
Anita Ludik Hoskins: Ja onthou goed die Idelson Hotel en die lang slap karre! My Ma het sedert my Pa se dood in 1961 in die Idelson Hotel gaan bly – die Annex agter die hotel. Het al ‘n paar maal daar gaan eet ʼn paar jaar gelede, net om die gevoel weer te kry van die eetkamer! Anneline Stock-hulle het ook daar gebly vir ‘n rukkie. Gert Lubbe (eienaar 1996) is die seun van mev. Lubbe wat my Koshuismoeder was in La Rochelle 1962 – 1965. (onthou ook vir Mnr. Plax en Goldblat, Volkskas ens.)
1982 – 1996
With the assistance of Schalk Esterhuyse and Hennie Tredoux (both Montagu residents) the following additional information was pieced together on the ownership of the hotel from the years 1982 to 1996 (14 years). During this period the hotel was owned by Christo Conradie, Marius O’Kennedy, Piet Nel and Carol Gunter (Carol was Piet’s niece).
Montagu-Hotel nou in egte boerehande
Worcester Standard & Advertiser – Friday October 31, 1986
MNR. MARIUS O’KENNEDY en sy vrou Helene van Loeriesfontein is vanaf 1 Oktober die nuwe eienaars van die Montagu Hotel in Badstraat, Montagu. Die hotel is gekoop van mnr. en mev. C. Conradie.
Mnr. O’Kennedy was ’n bekende boer van Loeriesfontein. Helene, sy vrou, is ’n oud-Somerset-Ooster. Montagu se natuurskoon het haar beïndruk en hulle het besluit om hulle daar te vestig.
Mnr. O’Kennedy, het die moontlikhede in die hotelbedryf gesien en die afgelope maand reeds sy vernuf in die bedryf getoon.
Beide hy en sy vrou het ’n vol lewe op Loeriesfontein gelei. Mev. O’Kennedy was voorsitster van die VLV-tak op Loeriesfontein. Sy is ook ’n kenner op die gebied van spyseniering en het die spyseniering vir baie funksies gedoen.
Die O’Kennedy’s het ook vir jare in die Loeriesfontein skoukomitee gedien. Mnr. O’Kennedy was ook voorsitter van die Saalperd-afdeling van die SA Skou. Mnr, en mev. O’Kennedy het vyf seuns en ’n dogter. Die oudste seun. Koos (21), is tans bestuurder van die hotel. Die ander is Helene (19), Ben (18), Maree (12) en Prieur (6) wat die laatlammetjie in die familie is.
Die O’Kennedy’s is baie lief vir sport. Hulle is albei nog jonk en egte Boesmanlanders vol gees.
Hulle neem deel aan gholf, tennis asook jukskei. Mnr. O’Kennedy was die tenniskaptein van die klub op Loeriesfontein. Hy het ook aan jukskeikompetisies op Kroonstad deelgeneem.
Verder is die gesin ook groot perdeliefhebbers en kranige ruiters. ’n Saalperd van mnr. Koos O’Kennedy was die kampioen vyfgang ryperd op die onlangse Robertson- Landbouskou.
Mev. O’Kennedy beloof heerlike boerekos en a la carte-spyskaarte aan gaste en besoekers.
Die twee Loeriesfonteiners en hul gesin is nog egte Boesmanlanders met warm harte en oop arms vir hul medemens. Die mense is goeie mense, boeremense, en is ’n groot aanwins vir die Montagu-gemeenskap.
Mnr. O’Kennedy beplan verbeterings in die vorm van ’n swembad vir die gaste. Hy wil ook ’n dameskroeg open. Die drankwinkel gaan in ’n selfbedieningdrankwinkel omskep word.
Hulle wil ook nog verdere opknappingswerk doen soos plaveiwerk by die parkeerterrein voor die hotel. Daar is ook ’n ou Victoriaanse woonhuis wat uit 1905 dateer en wat hulle wil restoureer. Die woonhuis is een van die oudstes op Montagu.
A short story about coincidence remembered by Schalk Esterhuyse. “Yes I knew the late Piet Nel well. In fact the poster(shown left) on the wall in the passage outside my office once belonged to Piet”. Schalk explains further, Piet Nel saw the poster which is an actual election poster for a candidate Klopper (Schalk cannot remember the year). Piet liked the poster and had it framed and put up in the old Commercial Hotel Robertson which he owned at one time. When he bought the Montagu Country Hotel he brought his poster with him from Robertson and placed the poster on the wall in the bar of the Montagu Country Hotel. When he left Montagu the poster was given to Schalk.
Something more about the Lubbe era
With the help of the Montagu Country Hotel Media sites
1996: Gert Lubbe Acquires the hotel
Well-known South African hotelier and tourism pioneer Gert Lubbe bought the Montagu Country Hotel on a liquidation sale in 1996. He had the vision to restore the interior of the only original Art deco Hotel in South Africa to its former glory, and changed the name from Montagu Country Inn to Montagu Country Hotel.
The beginning of Route 62
Gert arrived at the brilliant idea to create the marketing concept Route 62 (R60 and R62 combined), similar to Route 66 in the USA, but with the distinct difference that Route 66 was never fully operational from coast to coast. The R60 and R62 served as the main highway from Cape Town, through Oudtshoorn, the Garden Route, to Port Elizabeth. The N2 National road was constructed much later. The fruit of his enthusiasm was the creation of the extraordinarily successful Route 62 awarding Montagu and the Klein Karoo a prominent spot on world maps.
Also known as a Wine Route, Route 62 leads through the wine-growing areas of Wellington, Tulbagh, Worcester, Robertson and the Klein Karoo and is thus the longest wine route in the world. Route 62 spans 850 km from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, and is the obvious alternative to the N2 highway.
The Art Deco Theme
The Montagu Country Hotel is the only authentic Art Deco Hotel in South Africa. The combination of Art Deco door handles as well as door designs with colonial gables are a good example of every kind of decorative design. These are evident at the entrance and throughout the hotel. All the dressing tables in the main building are Art Deco-style pieces of beauty. The lounge suites are re-upholstered original pieces, and are to be seen at different places around the property, with a special collection to be seen in Lubbe Lounge.
Art deco designers prime concern was with taste and style rather than with practicality and performance. Fashion designers exploited woman’s weaknesses for new clothes by changing styles and colours as often as possible. Certain things stand out as distinguishing marks of the Art Deco period, such as cloche hats, bandeaux worn immediately above the eyebrows and short cropped hair. Certain colours too evoke the “twenties and thirties” as “tango” – a burnt orange shade – silver and black. Great care was taken over the packaging of cosmetics, particularly perfume and the best glass designers like Baccarat and Lalique were employed to design scent bottles. Entertaining changed too from formal dinner parties to cocktail parties
and a whole new society cult was born and of course the clothes, accessories, and furniture to go with it.
Gallery of decor
Pictures: From various Montagu Country Hotel social media sites
The Basson era
By Irma Jordaan
Pierré-Jacques Basson
During 1996 Gert Lubbe and partners bought the Montagu Country Inn for an amount of R 1,9m. and then proceeded to do extensive renovations.
In April 1999 at the age of 22 years, P-J started working at the hotel as the restaurant manager. He had previously worked for Gert Lubbe at the Matoppo Inn in Beaufort West.
Soon after his arrival, the name of the hotel was re-branded to the Montagu Country Hotel.
Three months after P-J started at the hotel, the general manager resigned and P-J was offered the position as that of the acting general manager on a three month trial period. P-J grabbed the opportunity with both hands and made the position his own.
Under Gert Lubbe ownership, the hotel saw many changes – with P-J overseeing the projects, whilst running the hotel on a day-to-day basis.
The highlights of these changes were:
In 2001 the adjacent property to the hotel was purchased and converted to hotel rooms. This area is now known as Just Joey. The old staff quarters were demolished to open-up the gardens whilst the house (now known as Carrington Villa) were changed into four suites and a spa.
In 2012 the hotel sold the adjacent storage facilities in Bath Street. After the sale these were converted into commercial shopping units (Full House, Pep Home and Mr Price).
Many interior and exterior upgrades to the hotel were undertaken over the next couple of years, resulting in the Montagu Country Hotel becoming a popular stopover for tour coaches.
Tragically Gert Lubbe had a stroke during July 2019 and passed away four months later.
In June 2020 during the Covid pandemic, P-J and his family bought the portion of the shares in the hotel left in Gert’s estate, to his family.
Under the new ownership, the hotel was extensively upgraded and refurbished. The main project was finished towards the end of 2020. These renovations meant the addition of a massive deck at the front of the Hotel, an activity centre, rental space that houses an information centre together with a day-time restaurant called Feathers and Flatcaps. The evening restaurant was re-branded to Charlestons.
Other upgrades included the installation of solar panels, one of the first electrical car charging stations at a country hotel and wheelchair friendly self catering units.
P-J together with his wife Colene and fellow director Daniel Lutz from Stellenbosch’s long term vision is to establish the Montagu Country Hotel as one of the best privately owned hotels in South Africa, whilst still retaining the country hospitality and charm.
P-J and Colene
ECLECTIC MONTAGU IS JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF KLEIN KAROO
Part of an article written by Chris Thurman
which appeared in the Business Day on Friday, 12 July 2024
In this grim week of SA’s Big Freeze, I’ve taken comfort from memories of a less icy June. Not long ago I was cruising on the R62 in a baby blue Cadillac, the winter sun on my face, tracking the curves of the Cogmanskloofpas and admiring the huge chunks of sandstone rising either side of me.
The millions of years over which the river carved out the valley, the vast pressure bending the mountains into rocky swirls, all led to this moment. Did time stand still as we drove? Perhaps.
Sadly, the Cadillac (a rare 1956 Sedane De Ville) was not mine. It is one of two (the other is a 1964 model) belonging to the Montagu Country Hotel, the pride and joy of proprietor PJ Basson, my chauffeur and guide. Unlike me, PJ had places to be; he is a man on a mission and that mission is to keep Montagu the jewel in the crown of the Klein Karoo. His mentor, Gert Lubbe, pioneered the Route 62 concept, which has been such a boon to tourism in this region, after purchasing a somewhat dilapidated Art Deco building – then called the Montagu Country Inn – in 1996.
The distinctive façade hasn’t changed too much since its construction in the 1930’s, but its interior has been through numerous phases of restoration. Today the Montagu Country Hotel is a unique exemplar of Art Deco architecture and design. The rest of the town is an eclectic mix. A number of its houses and churches are more than 150 years old, and many of its prominent landmarks date to the early 20th century. These have been lovingly restored as museums, guest houses, restaurants and art galleries.
Indeed, it feels like there is art around every corner in town. My Montagu arts journey started in a room adjacent to the Montagu Country Hotel lobby, which Basson and his wife, Colene, have developed as an exhibition space for local artists. This can create intriguing juxtapositions. Currently, the gothic mood of Hanna Naudé’s oil paintings is pleasantly at odds with the happy hustle and bustle where hotel reception meets the stylish Feathers and Flatcaps cocktail lounge and the cosy charm of Charlestons restaurant. Naudé takes the viewer into a troubling dream world, a storyland somewhere between Edgar Allen Poe and the windswept landscapes of the Brönte sisters.
