Riebeek Valley Heritage was formed to document and preserve the rich heritage of the Riebeek Valley, with a specific focus on the architectural and societal heritage elements that continue to have a visible impact on the evolution of the valley.
Our objectives are to:
- Document and collate the detailed architectural and societal history
- Increase awareness for the preservation of historic architecture and locations
- Create modern activities that engage people on the topic of heritage
- Share the valley’s heritage with locals and visitors
Who We Are
The owners of Vleitjies, Elena and Joshua Geldenhuys, started Riebeek Valley Heritage in 2024 by creating the website and the Riebeek Kasteel Heritage Walk. Their interest on the subject stemmed from Joshua’s heritage, with Jan Smuts being his great-grand uncle, as well as the ongoing difficulty to find information about their home’s history at the Vleitjies farm.
Local heritage enthusiasts: Henk Bruwer – owner of the De Hoop farm; and Chris Murphy – curator of the Riebeek Valley Museum; were instrumental in providing additional heritage information and context used for the website.
What We Do
In line with our objectives, we work with heritage experts, resources, and locals to unearth the riveting stories of historical people and families in the valley, as well as the facts and old illustrations of heritage sites and buildings of the Riebeek Valley.
We then create modern and engaging content on this website and elsewhere to spread the story and reach as many people as possible.
Our resources and achievements to date include:
- The Riebeek Kasteel Heritage Walk
- 25+ detailed archives
- 250+ heritage images, maps and illustrations
Share Your Stories
We welcome any feedback or suggestions. If you have any information to share or would like to discuss the heritage of the Riebeek Valley in greater detail, please contact us.
