Page 12 - LandscapeIssue-143

FEATURE

BAYNESFIELD ESTATE MUSEUM:

WHERE FARMING HISTORY COMES TO LIFE

Text and photos by Dr Jonathan Foley, Ground Level Landscapes

Hidden in the rolling hills of the Umlaas Valley between Richmond and

Pietermaritzburg lies the pristine farmland of the Baynesfield Estate. It was here
that Joseph Baynes arrived as a boy of eight from England in 1850. By the time he
was 26, he was buying up available Voortrekker farmland and by the time he died
at 83 without an heir, he left his estate in trust for the benefit of all South Africans.

he Voortrekker farm ‘Nels Rust’ that he
purchased was renamed Baynesfield
Tafter his death in 1925. The estate is
managed by a Board of Trustees and hosts
open days, fairs and guided tours on request.

Baynesfield estate and heritage
garden
Today Baynesfield Estate is a working farm
producing avocados, beef and soya. Driving
into it, a cooling avenue of London plane trees
greets the visitor. At the original homestead
of Baynes House, one steps back in time
into the charming Victorian farming era of
colonial Natal. Here history and agriculture
come alive in a range of museums, all
housed in historic buildings surrounded by
a stunning five hectare garden. An authentic
vintage experience is presented, preserving
and showcasing woodcraft, blacksmithing
tools, communication equipment, tractors,
farm machinery, and butter and dairy
implements.
Centenary trees An agricultural museum from the Victorian farming era of colonial Natal
The generous lawns are studded with grand
trees, including a spectacular Yellow wood
(Afrocarpus falcatus) by the homestead developing and preserving the gardens farm on the fair days when all the museums
and two massive Belhambra shade trees and her brief was to ‘rhyme the garden’ with and gardens are open to the public. Here,
(Phytolacca dioica) from Mexico. These exotic the past, integrating the Victorian love of in the filtered shade of Celtis trees, one
trees were planted in the drylands of South sometimes garish colour with the existing can pause and enjoy the beds of flowering
America and are able to survive prolongued garden features and filling the beds with a Clivia, Camellia, Azaleas and indigenous
droughts due to their pithy, fibrous stems visual feast of flowering perennials. These Plectranthus and Mackaya.
and extended root systems. The Belhambra include Alstroemerias, Heliotropes in semi-
trees are underplanted with shade loving shade areas, Foxgloves, Rudbeckia, Shasta Maze and rose garden
Walking Stick lillies (Neomarica gracilis) and daisies, Watsonias, Bearded Iris, Lambs Ear, The maze garden is charming, with neatly
Hen and Chickens (Chlorophytum comosum Madeira daisy and many more in the full sun. clipped Buxus and a centre piece fountain
‘Vittatum’). Two apple trees planted by The beds are laid out in generous looking onto the borrowed landscape of
Joseph Baynes survive in the gardens, as do sweeping curves and are beautifully layered, the surrounding farmlands. The rose garden
established Bristle oaks (Quercus acutissima), often as an underplanting for smaller trees is spaciously laid out and filled with Old
Jacarandas and Hollies. such as the oval leaved privet (Ligustrum World roses underplanted with colourful
ovalifolium ‘Aureum’). Focal points are Alyssum, Dianthus and Verbena. Walking
Victorian perennials and bedding carefully placed in the landscape, benches through these gardens, one has a palpable
plants for resting, vintage farm implements, arches sense of what life on the farm was like all
At the entrance to Baynes House, a bed of with creepers, small statuary and potted those years ago.
colourful Violas in orange, purple and canary flowers, all of which add to the overall charm
yellow bask beneath a soaring solitary fan of this heritage garden. An outstanding legacy
palm. Around the homestead, the Victorian New areas in the garden have been Joseph Baynes made his mark as a
planting theme is extended with glossy developed around the workshops of the pioneering agriculturist who built the
green Acanthus, yellow Phormium, clipped vintage tractor club, where a working first cattle dip in the country to combat
white Spirea and Sweet Flag. London double decker bus is housed. This tick-borne diseases, set the bacon curing
Lisa Thompson is responsible for imposing relic provides rides around the industry on a sound footing, and established

10 Landscape SA • Issue 143 2024 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za