An inspiring wrap of the very busy Historic Bathurst’s (HB) activities over the past year was complemented by TV reality show pioneer Penny Elliot’s presentation at the organisation’s AGM at the Pig and Whistle Inn in Bathurst on Thursday January 16.
For a small organisation in a small village, Historic Bathurst has been remarkably busy. Chairperson Tom Barrett outlined the year’s highlights in his report. Activities included grass cutting and general maintenance at the Mill, Powder Magazine and Toposcope.
While Historic Bathurst is a separate organisation, the move of the Kowie Museum to Bathurst and its incorporation within BAM late last year were significant for it.
Nick Cowley’s Historical Trails around the village including the two churches, the Wiggle House at the end of Kings Road and the Lonely Grave (off Park Lane) had become increasingly popular. Adding value and interest to those tours (and the village’s historic sites in general) was the move to produce QR codes for its main sites and individual homes, through Sunshine Coast Tourism.
In 2024, visits to historical landmarks had been by groups rather than individuals. These had included military associations, history clubs and societies from other towns, and even the Jeffreys Bay gardening club.
Barrett said the village’s three main heritage sites remained in good repair.
The renovation at the toposcope had been a major success with no vandalism. An effective litter collection roster meant the area remained attractive and clean.
The popular piper for the Winter Solstice in June was now a fixture on the Bathurst calendar and proving increasingly popular. In 2024, more than 200 people attended the important fundraiser.
At Bradshaw’s Mill, the header tank was leaking and had to be replaced. Other repairs necessary were replacing the brick steps; waterproofing along the wall of the mill next to the stage; and replacing a rusted rod that helps hold the building together.
“We are also monitoring a small structural crack and hoping that it does not develop,” Barrett said.
Music at the Mill had been well attended and raised around R11 000, much of that through a raffle.
The number of ad hoc visitors to Bradshaw’s Mill had declined. This was partly because the visits weren’t being advertised as much, because there was a dwindling number of curators. But Michelle Rowley had identified a new group of curators.
“Hopefully, together with a new phone, we will be able to make the mill more accessible,” Barrett said. In future, access would probably have to be by prior arrangement
The powder magazine was a hidden gem, Barrett said.
“It is part of the historic trails but still attracts specialist military historians/ group visitors rather than ad hoc tourists. We will continue to keep the site maintained and tidy.
The annual family picnic ensured the grass was cut.
Historic Bathurst is working on a guide to the history of Bathurst; however, the village’s history over the past 100 years had proved difficult to research.
Thanks largely to the efforts of Rowley, Sunshine Coast Tourism was now assisting Bathurst. SCT initiatives included new signage at the village green and elsewhere; at the mill, they had covered the costs of the new header tank.
Bathurst was growing as a heritage tourism destination.
Historic Bathurst’s finances were in good shape – “which is just as well as we do anticipate some costly bills at the Mill”.
While the Mill used to be the organisation’s main revenue earner, now, the two fund raisers at the Toposcope and the Mill, together with the historical trails, were the main source of revenue.
“The business model has certainly changed,” Barrett said.
Historic Bathurst sought to attract more school visits; however, the cost of transport was a constraint for many local schools.
“We do need to incorporate Xhosa history and culture into our activities in the future and we will be exploring ways in which this might happen. Ideas would be welcome in this respect,” Barrett said.
The biggest challenge for Historic Bathurst, however, was the long term future of Historic Bathurst as an NPo, considering its preset custodians were ageing.
“The historic sites alongside the Pig and Whistle are a drawcard together with the general quirkiness of the village,” Barrett said. “I sincerely hope some of the newcomers to the village will come to the party. Bathurst is a unique little village in so many respects, with plenty of challenges, but hopefully we can make a plan and HB will continue. “
Penny Elliot, who was a participant in the 1983 reality television show, The Volunteers, is a sought-after presenter, and it’s not hard to understand why.
Supported by a slideshow of photographs – mostly stills taken by the film crew – she speaks with insight and humour about the selection process, the producer’s rules that the modern-day 1820 settlers had to comply with, cooperation and conflict and what the group of 13 achieved. It’s a talk you should definitely aim to hear first-hand if you haven’t already.
- This article was first published in Talk of the Town, January 30, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
