Already from 1912 there was a hostel named Excelsior in Heidelberg. This hostel was next to the Vereeniging road, on the west side of West Street. There were originally 4 buildings. One has since been demolished. Mr David Johannes Mentz Jordaan (1887 – 1959) was the hostel father and managed the hostel on a personal level. At the end of 1917 he resigned to pursue a political career. He became Mayor of Heidelberg for a period. The school was overseen by a school commission and they decided that the hostel must be managed by the NG Church.

The new hostel “Excelsior” was built in 1923, by Mr. JS Joubert, at a cost of £10 820. The hostel accommodated 90 boys. (Reference and pictures: “Aan God Alleen Die Eer” by Dr AE Faul Bosman) 
I lived in this same house with my parents and siblings in 1980. I was 23 years old. My father sold it to Roger who converted the house into a Guest House. I see that there are a lot of changes inside the house. The wooden floors and fireplace have been removed. Walls have been demolished to make larger rooms. The veranda has been built in. The swimming pool was built by my father, but has been tilled. 

When staying there an “Ou Oomie”, from next door, convinced me and my brother Clive, to dig for gold in our garden. His thinking was that the house was built before the 2nd Anglo Boer War and whoever stayed here, buried gold coins in the yard before going to war. He had a divining stick with a string attached at the end to a plastic container. I surmise there was a piece of gold in the container. He would walk around our garden pointing at places where to dig. We didn’t find anything and our father was not pleased with all the holes in the garden.

(Written by Tony Burisch)

​Source: Heidelberg Heritage Association - Article Post (Click to visit website)

​Source: Heidelberg Heritage Association Facebook Page - General (Click to visit website)