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History: The Heemraad chose an excellent site for their Drostdy. It is situated to the east of the Korenlands River, on the road to the Cape and commands a fine view across the valley to the Langeberg Range and the towering Twelve O’Clock Peak. Building of the Drostdy began in 1746, a year after the Colonie in de Vergeleegene Districten (Colony in the far-off Districts) had been pro claimed. The original yellow-wood rafters, principals, framework, ceiling-boards and floor-boards were brdu from the indigenous forests on the southern slopes of the Langeberg: Hermitage, Koloniesbos, Duiwelsbos, Wamakersbos, Appelsbos, Spaarbos and Grootvaders bos. Tradition has it that the hinges, the locks and the nails came from the smithy of Hermanus Steyn (d’Oude) at Bruintjiesrivier, a quitrent farm. The fireproof ceiling and the framework, fixed by means of wooden pegs, are still in their original state; a few of the floors were later replaced by earth Boors.
The Drostdy was originally built in the shape of a T, with its front towards the Korenlands River, but in 1812-1813 the landdrost, P. S. Buissine, enlarged it, changing the shape to that of an H. He shifted the front door to its present position and built a pointed, pilastered gable above it. He added two more short wings so that the house eventually consisted of fifteen rooms. The landdrost’s house was the section furthest from the river and there were three large offices; the court room, the landdrost’s office and that of the secretary.
The building had an attractive garden. In 1803 D. G. van Reenen recorded in his journal, before proceeding with my account, I must add a few words about Swellendam. It has a residency with every convenience for the Landdrost, also a store house, stable, prison and a home for the Substitute and his servants. In front of the Landdrost’s house there is a pretty garden, well planted with all sorts of fruit trees, vine and vegetables.
Barrow rightly remarked that, from the very beginning, the Drostdy stood as a landmark in the history of South Africa. Hardly any event of importance passed it by. Moreover, it was a rendezvous for the travellers and governors on their journeys to the far east; one can readily imagine the splendid procession of distinguished travellers: Thunberg, Van Plettenberg, Le Vaillant, Barrow, De Mist, Janssens, Lichtenstein and others.
The Drostdy eventually became private property. In 1856 it belonged to P. G. Steyn and it remained in the possession of the Steyn family until 1939.
From 1926 onwards the people of Swellendam made repeated efforts to preserve the Drostdy, with the result that the government acquired the building in 1939 and a Swellendam Drostdy Committee was formed, consisting of interested local personalities under the chairmanship of the landdrost. Under the guidance of this Committee the building was renovated throughout by the Department of Public Works and converted into a cultural history museum. The various rooms were labelled to indicate their original functions and in 1941 a start was made with the collection of objects of daily use and farming implements, mostly by donations. This museum was opened on 20th October, 1943, the date of the bicentenary of the first Heemraad for the Lower Breede River district.
This museum has excited great interest since its inception and the exhibits, which relate almost exclusively to the history of the Swellendam district. After more than two centuries the Swellendam Drostdy is now one of the most valuable and attractive historical monuments in the care of the Commission.
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