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History: About nine km from Stellenbosch along the road to Koelenhof a farm road turns off sharply to the right, crosses a bridge and enters a white-washed gateway heavily shadowed by oaks. Behind these trees stands the fine old house of Nooitgedacht.
Nooitgedacht was granted in 1692 to Matthias Greeff, a blacksmith who had come from Magdeburg in Germany in 1650. He became the ancestor of the Greeff family in South Africa. At Nooitgcdacht he practised his trade of blacksmithing, assisted by other smiths from Germany. He also devoted himself to breeding sheep for slaughter and the preparation of medicinal herbs. According to Peter Kolbe, it was his habit to test his medicines and plasters on his own slaves before supplying them to those who stood in need of them. However, Greeff became a man of standing in the community and even served for a time as a heemraad of Stellenbosch. So it is safe to assume that he would have built a substantial house in which he and his successors lived for many years.
In 1718 the property came into the possession of Johannes Albertus Loubser. Loubser died soon after wards and his widow married Jacobus Cloete. During the second half of the eighteenth century their son Hendrik became the owner of Nooitgedacht. He was a progressive agriculturist and planted extensive vineyards and forests on the farm. In 1769 he built the slave bell, and in 1774 the main house itself.
In this house and on this farm Hendrik Cloete lived like an old-time lord of the manor. His personality commanded great respect and he was regarded as one of the wealthiest farmers in the vicinity. He had nearly 100 slaves in service and employed his own hunters to keep his table provided with game and fish. He kept open house and the Rev. Meent Borcherds of Stellen bosch was a frequent visitor.
In 1890 Cecil John Rhodes bought Nooitgedacht and started a fruit farm with the assistance of H. E. V. Pickstone. Afterwards it again passed into private hands.
Nooitgedacht is not only of historical interest but also an important example of Cape Dutch architecture. It is H-shaped and has an impressive concavo-convex front gable typical of the graceful and picturesque gables found in the districts of Stellenbosch and Somerset West. Its design, with its contrasting curves and moulding right across the gable, is unique. The side gables are also concavo-convex, but much simpler. The verandah was added when Rhodes had the house restored by the architect F. K. Kendall. In the entrance hall there are four murals, framed by Rhodes.
The house was seriously damaged by fire a few years ago, but the owners restored it with great care and at considerable expense.
Proclaimed 1968"
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Construction Date: 1774
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