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...
The Pink Church
Built at the turn of the century, the Pink Church was originally the school and concert hall of the town. It continued to function as a school into the 1960s when the new community school was built.
The Pink Church was built by James Logan in 1896.
"It's opening was accompanied by the usual round of publicity that followed all of Logan's good deeds," says Dr Dean Allen, author of Empire, War & Cricket in South Africa.
On page 171 of the book it reads: "The school at Matjiesfontein was opened on 22 January 1896 at a cost of over £600 to Logan, which, as the Cape Times pointed out, was 'without assistance, in a pecuniary sense, from the Department of Education
"Inspected by Mr J.R. Cuthbert, Cape Inspector of Schools, in 1896 he reported that 'Very few towns could boast such excellent school accommodation." He was delighted with the 'handsome and roomy building'.'
It was also used as a concert hall before becoming the 'Pink Church' in the 1960s. It’s now a sought-after wedding venue for its charm and historic feel; as well as for other special occasions and events.
Further Reading
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.
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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