Parkes Cottage and Millwood House
Parkes Cottage on Rawson Street was originally built in the Millwood Goldfields in the 1880s. This was after the first gold was found in Knysna, and the area around Millwood was declared open for public diggings in 1886. Although the goldfields had a brief production life, a little town sprang up around it called Millwood, which housed and entertained miners and their families. The cottage was later dismantled and re-erected in the main square in Knysna, and finally moved again to Rawson Street. It is now one of the five buildings that form part of the Knysna Museum, and it depicts the history of Millwood.
Millwood House was also was originally built in the Millwood mining village, and later dismantled and moved to Knysna after the mines were exhausted.
Churches
The first church built in Knysna was the Dutch Reformed Church, which was built in 1851. It served the congregation until 1904, when their numbers outgrew the building. The present church was built in 1904 by architect Paulus JC Hofman.
The original St. George’s Anglican Church was built in 1855 on land donated by George Rex, the founder of Knysna. In 1919, a decision was made to build a new church in Knysna that honoured the soldiers who died during the First World War. The project was halted in 1922, however, when the initial tenders lacked funding. In 1926, Rev. Bishop Henry Siwell, the Lord Bishop of George, secured finances and restarted the building process. It was designed to accommodate 250 people and was completed by 1928.
Thesen House
Knysna’s history is linked to influential and enterprising characters, such as Stephanus Terblanche, Joachim van Plettenberg, George Rex, George Parkes and the Benns. One of the most prominent pioneers were the Thesen family. Many places of interest in town are named after them: Thesen Street, Thesen Islands, Thesen House and Thesen Harbour Town.
Thesen and Co. Ltd had their first offices and store on Main Street in Knysna, where they conducted their official business. Later they moved to Long Street, where the present building stands. Thesen House was designed in 1915 and built in 1917. It is built on a foundation of sandstone with walls of brick and an iron roof. A fire destroyed the building in 1926, which was rebuilt with gables showing a Viking ship. The building still belongs to the Thesen family.
Other Important Buildings
Mellville’s was originally built in 1876 by William Mile. In 1882, Standard Bank rented the whole building, which served as both the physical bank and the manager’s residence.
First National Bank (FNB) was built on the site where the first home in Knysna was originally built. The present building dates back to 1870, and served as a private home and shop. The Thesen family bought the property in 1876. Barclays Bank (now FNB) opened their branch in Knysna in 1919.
The site of the first sawmill built in Knysna has been preserved and now forms part of the Woodmill Lane shopping complex. The sawmill was built by The Knysna Steam Sawmills Company in 1875. It was powered by a 16 horsepower Ransome engine imported from England. Prior to the establishment of the mill, cutting and working of timber was done manually on-site in the Knysna forest. The mill was closed in 1984 and transferred to the Knysna Industrial Area.
For holiday-makers in search of the dichotomy of relaxation and adventure can rest assured that accommodation in Knysna on the Garden Route ...
Knysna lies on the banks of a tranquil lagoon, guarded at its mouth by The Heads and overlooked to the north by the Outeniqua Mountains....