THE HISTORY OF THE BLYTH RESIDENCE AT 2 VAN DER WESTHUIZEN STREET

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THE BLUE PLAQUE RECOGNITION AND MODERN RESIDENCY (2022)

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The rich historical and architectural legacy of the property at 2 Van der Westhuizen Street achieved formal recognition on 19 August 2022. During an official community ceremony hosted by the Heidelberg Heritage Association, local historian Mr Tony Burisch formally awarded a prestigious Blue Heritage Plaque to the site.

The installation is catalogued as Blue Plaque Number 55 within the association's heritage master index. The plaque was fully funded through the private civic sponsorship of Hans and Erika Prigge.

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At the time of the unveiling, the current owners had already maintained their private family residency at the historic home for five years. Based on a structural assessment of the underlying framing and masonry, it is believed that the stately residence was originally constructed in the 1890s.

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ACCOUNTANT GEORGE BLYTH AND THE TRANSVAAL GOLD RUSH

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The early history of the estate is tied directly to the legacy of Mr George Kinnear Blyth. Sourcing professional qualifications as an accountant and a legal agent, it is highly likely that Blyth originally journeyed to the Witwatersrand region due to the massive economic boom surrounding the historic discovery of gold. He subsequently chose to make the booming district of Heidelberg his permanent family home.

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During his lifetime on the highveld, Blyth established himself as a highly successful professional and was widely considered one of the wealthiest citizens operating in early Heidelberg. He leveraged his prominent social status to help shape the town's late 19th-century elite landscape, serving as an influential founding committee member of the exclusive Heidelberg Club. The club stands as the oldest social institution in the district, officially opening its doors to members in 1897.

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RE-LOCATIONS AND THE KLOOF INTERMENTS (1912 - 1950)

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The Blyth family line holds a permanent place within the town's historical geography, though the household endured deep personal tragedy during their residency. The family suffered the loss of their young son, Heinie Blyth, who passed away on 6 March 1912. Just a few weeks later, George Kinnear Blyth passed away on 24 May 1912. Father and son were returned to the town center and buried alongside one another within the historic family plot at the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery.

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Following the premature loss of her husband, Mrs Anna Emilie Blyth and her surviving children permanently vacated the Van der Westhuizen Street estate. The family executed a long-distance relocation, moving south to settle in the town of Ladismith (Ladysmith). Anna spent the remainder of her life there, passing away nearly four decades later on 7 June 1950.

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SOURCES AND CREDITS

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• Primary Historiography: Derived from the heritage property feature article written by journalist Eugene Viljoen, published in the 24 August 2022 edition of the Heidelberg Nigel Heraut.

• Civic and Social Records: Consolidated from the foundational membership registries of the Heidelberg Club, and the family tombstone inscriptions located at the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery.

• Archival Tracking: Supplemented by the property registration logs of the Heidelberg Heritage Association curated by Tony Burisch.