On 20th January, Ben Rawdon celebrated a milestone birthday of 90 years choosing Matjiesfontein for the celebrations. Attended by family and friends, this special occasion ensured many glasses were raised in Ben’s honour.It was also a time to acknowledge and celebrate Annette and Ben’s 60th wedding anniversary – an amazing milestone achieved! The hotel has been throwing legendary celebrations for over 125 years now, and this was no exception with staff joining...
A Matjiesfontein Ghost Story: Lucy
Posted on Wed September 9, 2015.
Matjiesfontein is reputed to be the most haunted town in South Africa. The history of this Karoo oasis includes; fortification during The South African War (formerly known as The Anglo-Boer War) as headquarters of the Cape Command, refuge for Jamieson Raid reformers, and the venue of controversial war crimes hearings.
With such a colourful history, many stories abound of ghost sightings, though they are after all just stories—or are they?
There are no malevolent ghosts here. The ghosts of Matjiesfontein are said to be both playful, and even mischievous, or they are totally unconcerned with events around them.
Meet Lucy
We have two female ghosts who are live-in guests at The Lord Milner Hotel, today we introduce you to Lucy.
Lucy is a vague spectre. Rumours abound of people having seen her floating around the passages and the stairs, wearing a negligee. We speculate that perhaps it’s someone who died in the building.
Whoever she is, she’s friendly, and too ethereal to be frightening. It appears that Lucy has never checked out of her room on the first floor!
We also wonder if Lucy could be one of the voices that can be heard from time-to-time emanating from one of the rooms in the dead of night. A loud quarrels erupts and shatters the Karoo tranquility, even more effectively than a goods’ train clattering past. That’s not all that’s shattered: it also sounds as if hundreds of glasses and plates are being smashed inside too. But when someone goes to investigate, everything is quiet and there’s nothing that has been broken...
That’s all for now… make sure to follow us on Twitter to get updates on our next ghost story.
Further Reading
Milestone birthday in Matjiesfontein
Mon March 2, 2026
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A Step Toward a Greener Future
Thu October 16, 2025
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Nestled in the heart of the Karoo, Matjiesfontein has always been a place where history and heritage meet the endless beauty of the South African landscape. Now, this beloved village is adding a new chapter to its story — one that looks firmly toward the future.
Under the Karoo Stars: A Journey with the Shepherds Behind Our Lamb
Tue July 8, 2025
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At The Lord Milner Hotel in Matjiesfontein, our team recently embarked on a 125 km transhumance trek with a local Karoo sheep farming family, gaining deep insight into the heritage behind our beloved Karoo lamb. This time-honoured journey through the rugged landscape, marked by resilience, tradition, and connection to the land, revealed the true soul of the Karoo and the people who sustain it. Now, every dish of Karoo lamb we serve...
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