4 Bedroom House For Sale in Ballito

Property description

SHORTENS COUNTRY ESTATE PRESENTS

A rare historic farmhouse that tells a story. Built around 1900 by Horace Hulett, son of sugar industry pioneer Sir Liege Hulett, this home was originally the farmhouse of the well-known Bogmore Farm. Over the years it has served as a manor home, boutique hotel, and today stands as the centerpiece of Shortens Country Estate.

History of the farmhouse in Shortens Estate.

The founder of the sugar industry in Natal was Sir Liege Hulett who came to Natal in the mid 1800's. He began farming inland of Stanger in the area known as Kearsney. He grew tea, coffee, vegetables and fruit. Sir Liege had six children. Five sons and a daughter. By the late 1800's sugar cane was being grown in the Stanger and Umhlali areas. As Sir Lieges sons grew up he gave each of them a farm in the Umhlali Compensation area. One of these farms was given to Horace Hulett. This farm was called Bogmore, which stretched from the inland side of the R102, North to the Chakas Rock flyover, bordered onto what is today Simbithi, ran down the valley where Reddam is today and up to the ridge overlooking the sea. It included the Junction, Wakenshaw and Umhlali Country Club.

The Farmhouse is the house that Horace built as the farmhouse for Bogmore in about 1900. It was occupied from about 1902. He farmed sugar on Bogmore until about the late thirties when he retired and sold the farm to his nephew Peter Hulett. Peter and Vera lived in the farmhouse for the rest of their lives. Peter died in about 1977 and Auntie Vee died about 1987. They had no children so they left their estate to the children of George Hulett, Peters brother. There were six children who inherited the estate, one son and five daughters. They are all still alive and the son, Bruce, still farms inland of Ballito.

After Auntie Vee died, Patrick Shorten, who is related to the Huletts approached the family with the proposal to create a boutique hotel using the Farmhouse. He entered into a lease and proceeded to build eight double chalets in the gardens creating 16 rooms. The Farmhouse was converted into the hotel main building and converted into office, dining room, bar, lounge, kitchen, laundry and storerooms. There were no bedrooms or bathrooms in the farmhouse except for ladies and Gents toilets. Shortens Country House opened in 1992. Patrick sold the lease in 1995. This did not work out and the owners took it back in about 2003.It was operating as a B&B, weddings and conference centre with a very popular restaurant. The current owners bought the property in 2005 and continued operating the hotel, although the restaurant had closed. The land around shortens was then all sold and the land was rezoned. The hotel was closed in 2007 and the owners entered into a joint venture with a developer to build Shortens Country Estate. The Farmhouse was altered and converted back into a home during this period.

It is now a section in a sectional title development. The Love family have lived at Shortens for 12 years and the old house is well maintained and looked after. We are proud to have kept up the traditions as we have known the past families well.

This single level home offers:

4 spacious bedrooms

Main bedroom with full en-suite

Family bathroom and guest toilet

Executive lounge and family/TV lounge

Large dining room (fits a 12–14 seater table)

Solid wood French Oak built-in bar

Farm-style kitchen with island, walk-in pantry and separate laundry

Additional features:

Outside guest room with en-suite and private entrance

Office

Wrap-around verandah and covered patio

Garden and swimming pool

Double garage with option to purchase two additional garages

SHORTENS COUNTRY ESTATE FEATURES:

24-hour gated security

Communal pool

Clubhouse

Braai facilities

Children’s play area.

Close to shopping centres and easy access to the N2.

Regret no pets.

Contact Keyaren and Nom'e today to arrange a viewing!