A BRIEF HISTORY OF KING GEORGE’S GUEST HOUSE

(Reference: The Dream Houses of Mill Park by Gavin McLachlan, UPE, 1993)

Erf 1078 (lot 84)
Designer: B. Thompson
Contractor: R.G.McClellan
Plan Approval: August 1915
Completion Date: April 1915
Built For: F. Giband
Style Classification: English Vernacular Style

It is interesting to note from the above details, that the plans for this house were approved some time after the building was completed!

The roof is covered with plane tiles. The walls are smooth plastered with mouldings, and the windows are mostly recent timber casement window

Although much altered, this house retains a strong sense of character and presence. The dominant roof and Tudor revival gables create a striking impression and are visible from quite far away. Within the secluded front garden, the simple L-form of the main front part of the house with its elegant stoep and entrance forms a striking architectural image.

The house originally belonged to the Pudney family, who made their fortunes during the Ostrich feather era. It was altered and the upstairs bedrooms added, as the family increased. The beautiful stained glass was handmade.

Dave and Danielle bought this lovely homestead in 1995 from a retired couple, Mr and Mrs Kirton. It had 4 en-suite bedrooms, with a self-contained flatlet that was rented to a student.

Dave converted the pantry into the pub area. All the original woodwork was painted black, which was sanded and treated. He also altered the original garage and servants quarters into a lovely room with a separate entrance and also added bathrooms, resulting in a eight en-suite bedroomed Guest House!

The house next door, Newlands, was acquired in 2002.

The house has two luxury suites each with its own lounge area, one with it’s own balcony and the other with a private entrance.

There are also three rooms that share a bathroom down the hall and a self-catering flat with its own garage. The house has a very beautiful modern kitchen, two lounges, a lovely bar, dining room, four garages and a swimming pool.

The previous owners had an outside Chinese kitchen that Dave converted into a stunning en-suite room situated right next to the swimming pool. Dave also broke down some of the walls between the two houses and built a very nice bridge with a water feature linking them.