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Having rented Groote Schuur for 3 years, this was Rhodes's counter to the owner's asking price of £10,000 and her response back to him. In the end he paid the asking price for the 'Great Barn' and soon set about remodelling the interior and doubling the floor area.

Groote Schuur in on the estate of the presidential residence in Cape Town but tours are conducted on a weekly basis. I was able to visit today and enjoyed a fascinating tour. The bouse is similar to how Rhodes left it despite it being lived in by RSA presidents until the 1990s. It is now a national monument.

No photographs are permitted inside and only some photography in the grounds.

The visit today was fabulous. The views from the rear of the house are incredible.

When I return home I will seek out some pictures of Rhodes at Groote Schuur.

Behind Groote Schuur and across the road that is now De Waal Drive (perhaps renamed?) is (or was) Rhodes' private zoo. As late as the 1960's, it still housed descendants of the original lions incarcerated there by Rhodes. A newly appointed lecturer at the nearby University of Cape Town was late in leaving after his first day on campus and the winter sun had already set. As he walked back to his new home in Newlands he passed the zoo, of which he was unaware, and, as he did so, a lion roared. Since he was in darkest Africa, he feared the worst and took to his heels and ran the rest of the way to his home. This experience may have contributed to his later decision to emigrate to Australia, where there is no danger of encountering free-ranging lions.

Brett

"Peace' in the grounds of Groote Schuur

Mr Rhodes has lent his house, Groote Schuur, at Rondebosch near Cape Town, as a hospital for wounded officers. Our illustration of the ladies on the steps are Lady Edward Cecil and Lady Charles Bentinck, both of whose husbands are in Mafeking and have been wounded, Our photograph by Duffus Brothers, Cape Town.



Groote Schuur was rented by Mr. Rhodes in 1890, and after occupying the place for two years he purchased it. The house was originally a granary, and at that time probably consisted of one large room. It has been found impossible to determine the age of the house, because the woodwork in it, although of a Dutch character, is made of deal and not of any of the local woods. In all probability the building was used for residential purposes in the middle of last century. In 1878 the property was owned by Mrs. J. Van der Byl, who renamed it the Grange. Mr. Rhodes restored the original name and made several important additions to the house. The last of the improvements, however, had scarcely been completed before a fire broke out and destroyed the whole building.

The Cape Times for Dec. 16, 1896, gives the following account of the disaster “Groote Schuur, the residence of Mr. Rhodes, was completely gutted by fire in the early hours of the morning ... How the fire originated is a mystery. Within twenty minutes of the alarm the roof was ablaze, and very shortly afterwards it was patent that Groote Schuur was doomed. Nothing was saved from the rooms on the upper story . . . The library of 2,000 volumes, including the collection of type-written translations of old works on African history, was nearly all saved. The other contents rescued comprised the Portuguese flag captured by the Chartered Company’s forces in the encounter at Massikessi, a few years ago, the Chartered Company’s flag that Dr. Jameson carried through the first Matabele War, and an Imperial flag which accompanied the force in the same run to Bulawayo. Lobengula’s silver elephant and seal, maps, plans, private papers, the priceless collection of Zimbabye relics, Matabeleland curios, the old Dutch pocaal in which the Dutch East India directors were wont to drink success to the Colony — all these were saved from the library.”

These treasures are now safe in the new Groote Schuur.

Fortunately, the fire did not spread to the grounds. A large part of the land near the house has been converted by Mr. Rhodes into a public pleasure resort, and thrown open by him to the citizens of Cape Town for all time. In these grounds there is a wonderful collection of animals, a kind of natural Zoo. Almost every non-carnivorous animal to be found in South Africa is represented here, and nearly all the animals run wild. The collection has been valued at 100,000l.

The house is approached by a fine avenue of pines and oaks. The garden in front is carefully laid out in the Dutch style, and at the back the grounds are arranged in terraces, which extend to the lower heights at the base of Table Mountain, about 800 feet above the level of the sea. Beyond is a fringe of pine and forest trees.

Although the interior of Groote Schuur was completely gutted by fire, the outside walls were left standing, and the place has since been restored as far as possible to its original state.

Source: The Graphic, 7 April 1900

The same steps in 2016

Looking back down the steps towards the house.