This historical farm has been farmed by the MacRobert family since 1870. Apart from running a shop for the neighbourhood and being a postal agency, Wagenaarskraal was also a post for the stage couch and carts from Wellington to Kimberley (later from Nelspoort to Kimberley). All OHMS transport changed horses here. The Cape judge used it as a stopover to and from Kimberley. Although he was a family friend the house was commandeered for the night and taken over by his own personal staff.
Apart from the horses and stable they also had a resident blacksmith and harness maker – and later a doctor. The doctor, Dr Herron, was a TB sufferer who came from Belfast. Several TB patients were housed in one of the farm houses. Wagenaarskraal is the only weather station in South Africa run by one family for more than 100 years.
The old post office and shop building still exists and is used as a museum where all the existing information is kept. They still have books dating back from the 1870’s. Also on exhibition are the rifles and guns used by the people of South Africa during the Border and Boer wars, as well as a few rifles from the World Wars used by family members Capt, Lieut, and Sub-Lieut De Kock and Capt and Lieut MacRobert. Also exhibited are memorabilia of the wars and artefacts of the neighbourhood. A collection of approximately 700 pocket knives are also on display.
The post office building has always been open to the public and many demonstrations have been given to schools and historical institutions.
