When looking to buy a property in Oudtshoorn the first thing that will strike you upon arrival is the stark nature of its surrounds. The Karoo is an unforgiving place. It’s harsh, inhospitable, but unquestionably beautiful. While facing some of the harshest climatic conditions in the country, “feather palaces” in town remind us of what is possible and the opulence that came with the initial ostrich farming efforts.
At any point in time throughout history, post 1800, ostrich feathers have been worn and have adorned many hats, can-can dancers and a variety of other applications. Ostrich feathers became increasingly sought-after and Oudtshoorn’s ostrich farmers seized the opportunity with both hands.
They pioneered the domestication of ostriches, ripped out their fields, got rid of their cattle, planted lucerne as fodder for the ostriches and the rest is, as they say, history. When the news of the business boom spread, however, a number of Jewish immigrants were attracted to the area. They went on to become integral parts of the community and the local Afrikaner farmers embraced the newcomers, they even donated towards the construction of a synagogue in 1886.
During the height of the feather trade, more than 300 Jewish immigrants arrived from Lithuania, earning Oudtshoorn the nickname of “Jerusalem of South Africa.” Among these immigrants was who would eventually become the undisputed feather baron, Max Rose.
It was not until the turn of the next century that European fashion began to change and feathers were no longer as desirable or popular. This coincided with the rise in popularity and adoption of open top cars. When the First World War broke out, there were warehouses filled to the brim with feathers that had no buyers.
The ostrich industry reacted quickly and acted to re-establish their crops, by planting tobacco and reintroducing livestock. There are a few remnants, in the shape of 5-star guesthouses in Oudtshoorn that remind us of that one time when this Karoo town was a bustling, booming economic hub.
