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Southermost,
the first house in the town of In the early 1940s the current Michiel van Breda
sold Southermost to Pietie Albertyn, another well-known farmer
in the district. Changing hands again in 1959, the house became the property
of Freda Cowper. Freda and her husband, Tat (Arthur) Cowper were fruit
farmers on Mazoe in the Ceres district at the time and used Southermost
as their seaside holiday home. However, after their farmhouse on Mazoe
was destroyed by the devastating Boland earthquake of 1969, they left the
Ceres area and moved permanently to Southermost at Sadly, after fourteen very happy years at Southermost,
Tat Cowper died in 1983, in his 97th year, and Freda followed him two years
later aged 84. Ownership of Southermost then passed to their
three daughters, Janda Maybank, Gill Fuller, and Meg Cowper-Lewis. During the years 1986–1994 Janda was the resident
carer of Southermost, and in 1996 Meg took over the restoration
work. Both daughters have managed to retain the old-world charm and unique
character of Southermost. Operating for fifteen years now as a Bed &
Breakfast establishment, Southermost B&B can accommodate five guests. The accommodation is especially appealing
to foreign visitors wishing to stay in an original and unusual The rambling old beach house comprises in total
24 rooms, and exudes enormous character and atmosphere. With its unique and
predominantly Greek architecture – Mediterranean courtyard and faded blue
window frames – Southermost is strongly reminiscent of an Aegean
coastal villa. Now, under the auspices of the South African
Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), Southermost is listed as an historic home,
and remains the southernmost private home on the continent of |
