By Mike Loewe

Bathurst has come alive with local and international tourists spending thousands – even millions – in the historic settler village.

The centrepiece 175-year-old Pig ‘n Whistle Hotel, which is being sold in liquidation, had attracted a flurry of bids reaching R6-million, owners Carel and Zelda Kirstein said at the weekend.

At least 16 works of renowned artist Lucy Wild, 89, and her daughter Jane were sold over the festive season for prices reaching over R40 000, but averaging between R15 000 and R20 000.

The Wilds gallery curator Gail Walker said many buyers owned beach homes on the Sunshine Coast and wanted the Sunshine Coast beachscapes to take back to Johannesburg as a reminder, or to decorate their holiday homes.

Potter Richard Pullen of Earth Art who grew up in Bathurst and returned nine years ago after studying ceramics in Port Elizabeth, said: “Bathurst is fast becoming an artists‘ haven.”

Although he has an established client base, he said holiday-makers had been buying across his range, from his inventive moisture-busting salt shakers and baking dishes, to larger decorative pots and planters. Pullen glazes and fires his works in two kilns on the premises.

The Corner – formerly a dingy trading store transformed into a multi-media fine art and personalised handcraft gallery a few months ago – had experienced a rush of holiday trade, said manager Margie Addenbrooke.

The shop, conceptualised and supplied by fine artist and graphic designer Tori Stowe of Goat Multi-Media, was also selling screen-printed and hand-painted garments.

Designer and textile painter Mavis Boniwe said since being trained by Stowe, her new skills were bringing in a good income.

The Kirsteins said buyers were flying in from around the country to look at the antique hotel. While bids of R3,2-million were received at the auction in December, these offers had risen to between R5,8-million and R6-million over the festive season.

With occupancy of the 53-bed at 60% over the season, they said they were sad not to be able to continue to grow the hotel.

“We spent R2-million over the last three years on refurbishing, putting in new electrics, plumbing and redoing all the beds and linen. We were in the process of being upgraded to a three-star hotel, but we can‘t carry on.”

With furnishings dating back to the 1820 settler period, they said the hotel had huge appeal for lovers of history.

“We wanted to make it a boutique hotel. This place has got such spirit. It has charm and magic. People come here and chill. They feel totally at home. They sit with their feet up and occasionally dance on the tables!

“This hotel makes people happy.”

They said the property boom was also being influenced by Bathurst‘s unique micro-climate. It does not get the coastal winds, so vehicles and other metals do not rust so easily, yet it is 10 minutes from the beach.

It gets up to 1 000mm of rain a year, while over the hill this drops by half. The temperature gauge has not dropped below 9°C or gone over 38°C in 20 years.

“We don‘t want to leave,” they said.