First owned by 2 British officers, this is the birth of Simbithi

From farm to eco-estate, Simbithi Eco-Estate was born in May of 2003 and today stands in the place of what was once Beverley farm, owned by 2 British army officers.

An estate which now teems with life, indigenous forests, bush and natural wetlands, developers eLan Property Group and WBHO left much of the land untouched – a vision adopted first by George Ladlau, who bought the farm in 1919 for £2 000, a wagon and 16 oxen.

Years passed before Ladlau would buy the adjacent Beachcroft farm from Cecile Richie, forming Beverley Estate.

Two artisan wells remain untouched to this day. Ladlau believed the only way to protect the farm’s water supply was to keep surrounding vegetation in place.

This vision was adopted also by Ladlau’s son, Winston, when he took over control of the farm after returning from serving in the Second World War.

It would be years before the land would be sold to developers and even now it is still home to the original homestead, which was rebuilt in 1955, and one of the Ladlaus still lives there.

Rosemary Ladlau (94) is a world-famous name in the flower industry and has served as president in the World Flower Association.

Rosemary has had a rose named in her honour – the rose is a link between the Hybrid Tea and the French heritage rose with pointed, urn shaped buds which open slowly into full bodied blooms with the famous quartered centre of the old roses.

The home near Simbithi’s south gate remains magnificently framed by Rosemary’s world-famous garden. She has lived there for 74 years, still tending to her 4 hectare park of a garden with the help of long-serving Joseph Jobe.

Large groves of trees on the northern and southern sides of the estate, covered with purple flowers between November and March, give the estate its name.

Its scientific name is ‘millettia grandis’, ‘Umsimbithi’ in Zulu, also referred to as ‘Ironwood’ owing to the wood’s extreme density.

Today the eco-estate also boasts South Africa’s first and only executive golf course – of which all 18 holes can also be played in as little as 3 hours.

Designed by internationally-recognised golf course designer Peter Matkovich – and husband of Rosemary Ladlau’s daughter, Jane – the Simbithi golf course is an exceptional course in many ways.

Simbithi sports manager, Warren Abery has said the golf course is even more enjoyable owing to golfers being able to complete all 18 holes in as little as 3 hours.

But each hole is different, with each posing its own, unique challenge.

“It’s one of the few courses where you can play every single club in your bag, in one round,” said Warren.

With a par of 60 comprising par-3s, 4s and a par 5, each hole is named after the area it previously occupied when the land was still a farm.

The estate also serves up some delicious meals at its Fig Tree restaurant.

Simbithi is also home to an upmarket business service hub, the Simbithi Office Park, launched in 2016.

The office park has a number of tenants, which offer services ranging from health, beauty, retail and much more, all boasting a trendy vibe and free, secure parking.

In its 18 years, the 430-hectare estate has become a unique, eco-friendly residential community which exists in harmony with with wildlife and nature.