The house was built in 1880 by the Von Geusau family. After the Von Geusau family, the Malan Cilliers family lived in the house for nearly 36 years, before selling the house to the Bonsma family in 1995.
“The house had its original coal stove until 1995”, explained Henda Bonsma. “It was the only way to warm the house, especially considering the town’s cold winter nights.” The Bonsma family also restored the garden and terraces to their original design. “When we saw the pictures of the garden from the Von Geusau’s photo album, we could see that we followed the exact same lines of the original garden,” Bonsma said.

The five original oak trees are still in place around the yard and continue to give shade to many passersby. I am not entirely sure about this fact, but I believe that this was also the house that President Paul Kruger stayed in during his visit to Heidelberg.” The Bonsma family hopes that the old house will continue to be part of the town’s heritage for many years to come.

(Source: Article by Nadia van Staden in the Heidelberg Heraut dated 20 October 2021) 
 

Adriaan Von Geusau (1867-1944)
Adriaan Von Geusau was from a German Baronial family.  He was a large man with a trimmed goatee beard and practiced as an attorney in Heidelberg.  He was to be of some assistance to Cassie O’Reilly while the British occupied Heidelberg during the 2nd Anglo Boer War. After the war he became Mayor and assisted in the town’s public life for many years.  He and his son were committee members of the Heidelberg Club. Their portrait hang for many years in the club.

He died in 1944. Aged 77 years and is buried next to his wife, Catharina nee Mattiesing (1862-1931) in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery.
His daughter, Alexandra, was to marry his partner at law, Mr Joubert. 
(Source: Heidelbergers of the Boer War by Ian Uys)