History
The story of how the stroompie came to be
Embedded Files
The Stroompie has been a celebrated landmark along the Kleinmond-Betty's Bay coastline for over 150 years, holding a rich history of Albertyn family heritage and natural beauty. Originally part of the undivided Hangklip farm, the land was a favorite resting spot for local fishermen long before it became private property.
Acquisition and Family Legacy
In the 1950s, when Hangklip Estates began subdividing the last portions of the farm into smallholdings, J.R. Albertyn (Oupa) quickly secured the Stroompie section. He envisioned a continuous stretch of land from Dewetsbaai to the "public outspan" near the river. On Christmas 1959, he gifted the land to his five children, establishing a legacy of family ownership that continues today. While J.R.A. initially hoped to build a small cottage, his children chose to keep the land in its natural state.
J.R. Albertyn
This photo of the swimming dam is from the early 1960's
The "Dammetjie" and Early Development
The property’s character was shaped by early attempts to create a coastal retreat:
The Pine Lane: J.R.A. dreamed of an "estate" feel and planted a lane of pine trees along the access road with the help of local builder Kowie Geldenhuys.
The Swimming Dam: In the 1960s, the Louw family from Paarl—longtime campers at the site—constructed a cement dam. It featured a creative drainage system using a 40-gallon drum to manage seasonal water flow. Although it was a beautiful feature in its "glory days," the dam was eventually abandoned because winter rains frequently filled it with sand, making maintenance a monumental task.
The swimming dam in its glory days
A Landscape of Change
The natural environment of the Stroompie has seen significant shifts over the decades. The original pine trees eventually spread across the property, and while they were beloved for their shade, they were removed in 2002 because they were an invasive species and their roots were damaging the access road. Following a major fire that destroyed the remaining pines, Port Jackson trees dominated the landscape for nearly twenty years.
In the early 2000s, a major conservation effort was launched in partnership with the "Working for Water" organization and local conservationist Craig Spencer to clear the invasive species. Today, the land is maintained through the dedicated work of the "Betty's Bay hackers," ensuring the indigenous flora is protected.
The Twenty-Year Water-Hole Legacy
In the year 2004, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research approached the owners of Die Stroompie to ask for leave to sink a water-hole on their land. The goal of this shaft was to further our understanding of ground-water and its fitness for human use. Following a long and winding road of environmental look-overs, many meetings, and much letter-writing, the hole was finally sunk in the month of November. For the first three years, the owners were forbidden from drawing any water; thereafter, they were allowed to use it, provided that every drop taken was carefully measured and marked down in records. Now, after a full twenty years have passed, the water-hole has become the rightful holding of the landholders. Even so, the true deepness of the shaft and the speed of the water-flow remain unknown to this day.
Sinking of the borehole at the stroompie in 2004
Family gathering 1984
A Place of Gathering
Beyond its physical landscape, the Stroompie is defined by its social history. It has hosted generations of campers, students, and picnickers. Most notably, it has been the site of the annual family "gathering" since 1967, a tradition that has continued almost uninterrupted for over half a century, cementing the property’s status as a cornerstone of family connection.
Klik hier vir 'n Afrikaanse weergawe van die Stroompie se geskiedenis soos saamgestel deur Jeanette Fischer:
Google Sites
Report abuse