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Haldon History

The farm Haldon was purchased in 1892 by Col. Alfred Mason Templar and his elder sister Anne Georgina for 200 pounds. The property was 50 morgen in size. The mansion was built in the old English Herbert Baker style of sandstone. The sandstone was found on the hill behind the house. The house was built between 1892 and 1895. Col. Templar died on June 24, 1895.

Haldon Estate was then registered jointly by Anne Georgina and Lord Ion Basil Blackwood's names. Blackwood was transferred back to England. In 1918, all sold his antique furniture and movable property at public auction. He died during WWI. 

On 7 November 1918, Senator Donald David Coghill Murray, Haldon Estate bought. Several dignitaries visited Haldon at that time, as well as British sports teams. Several garden parties were also held. His spouse Susan Murray was a prominent figure in Bloemfontein in her own right.

After her husband died in 1947, she was alone with her 7 German shepherd dogs, and a chauffeur lived. She lived in solitude and died in 1960 after she is found dead in her chair in the living room by her chauffeur.


On 8 May 1960, Antonie Joseph Nader bought Haldon. He was a well-known racehorse trainer and had his jockeys. The race track was along the northern boundary line and stretched from east to west. Nader dies at the age of 56 due to ill health. 


On 2 October 1963, Pieter du Plessis bought Haldon as a Johannesburg brickworks. He had the option to buy the property if the brick-making project does not materialize. During the period (about 8 years), the house was divided into 2 dwellings in which 2 families lived. The brickwork did not materialize, and the house did for a year stood empty. The house has become dilapidated, and there are many antique candelabra and brass doorknobs were stolen. Squatters and bums have entered and pulled the house.


On 21 August 1972, Pieter and Mini du Plessis became the new owners of became Haldon. Restoration work has begun. All efforts have been made to retain the traditional style of the original house. Balance has been found between old and new.

 

Mini du Plessis laid out the current garden as she is a horticulturist and was judged by several garden competitions in the Free State and Northern Cape. She tried to plant evergreen trees and shrubs as much as possible. The swimming pool was built under a native Witolien tree and a Karee tree.

 

The above history is up to date to about 1996.

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