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About Rheenendal
Early Colonial Roots & Settler Patterns
Late 18th century foundations
The earliest recorded presence near Rheenendal comes from the Terblanche family. In 1770, Stephanus Josias Terblanche obtained a loan permit to farm in Melkhoutkraal on the eastern shore of the Knysna lagoon. A few years later, his brother Salomon acquired the nearby Leeuwenbosch farm, where the Portland estate now standsÂFormation of large colonial estates
In 1819, entrepreneur George Rex purchased De Poort (part of Leeuwenbosch) and renamed it Portland. Through successive acquisitions—including Melkhoutkraal, Eastford, Westford, and Springfield—he amassed around 25,000 acres, effectively holding near-complete control over the Knysna River basinÂExpansion of colonial farming
Captain Thomas Henry Duthie, Rex’s son-in-law, later acquired Belvidere (part of Rex’s holdings) and contributed to early settlement development. Subsequently, Sir Henry Barrington purchased Portland in the early 1840s and built the impressive Portland Manor in 1863, which was reconstructed after being damaged in the great fire of 1869Â
The Millwood Gold Rush (1870s–1890s)
Discovery and boom
In 1876, James Hooper stumbled upon gold-bearing gravel in a creek off the Karatara River on Ruigtevlei farm near Rheenendal. The creek was aptly named Jubilee Creek to honor Queen Victoria’s jubilee. The discovery sparked a rapid influx of prospectors, and a bustling mining village was erected—complete with hotels, a post office, police barracks, and a hospitalÂBrief prosperity to abrupt decline
Despite the initial fanfare, yields were low; only 656 ounces of gold were retrieved in the first year. By 1890, most mining operations had collapsed, and Millwood transformed into a ghost town. Some structural remnants, like Millwood House, were relocated to the Knysna MuseumÂ
The Van Rheenen Pioneering Legacy (Early 20th Century Onward)
Arrival and settlement
In 1912, Pieter Joseph (P.J.) van Reenen and his wife Florence Eleanor (“Tottie”) Cross arrived in the area from Cape Town. They initially settled at Redlands (Roodekraal) after a scenic journey via train to George and ox-wagon along the historic Seven PassesÂNaming Rheenendal
In 1920, they purchased a farm whose intended deed name—Fescue Meadows—they found inappropriate. Tottie proposed the name Rheenendal, honoring both their surname and their ancestral Dutch origins in RheenenÂEstablishing local services and entrepreneurship
Tottie opened a small shop behind their farmhouse in 1920, which later evolved into a butchery. Over time, it became a multi-purpose hub—serving as a furniture showroom (featuring stinkwood pieces), petrol station, and postal pointÂGrowth of the sawmilling and forestry enterprise
By August 1921, the Van Reenen family had begun sawmilling operations—initially crafting wagon parts from Cape beechwood. Over the decades, their business expanded into PJ van Reenen (Pty) Ltd, a forestry company involved in treating and exporting radiata pine. The family remains active in the timber industry through four generations, managing about 4,000 ha of land—over half planted with pine and a portion dedicated to protecting indigenous forestÂ
Summary
Summary Timeline
| Period | Highlights |
|---|---|
| 1770–1819 | Terblanche and Rex land grants, early colonial farming |
| 1840s–1869 | Portland Manor built, great fire and rebuild |
| 1876–1890 | Millwood gold rush: boom and bust |
| 1912–1920s | Van Reenen settlement, naming of Rheenendal, establishment of sawmilling and retail |
| 1920s–Present | Growth of forestry enterprise; PJ van Reenen (Pty) Ltd continues operating |