In the 18th century the farms Uitspanning and Poortjie were State owned. In 1890, the government erected a weir as well as 2 pumping stations on either sides of the river. These weir's were the first structures erected in the Orange River. Two water turbines were also erected on the farm Uitspanning which provided irrigation water for the 3 farms adjacent to the river.

 

In 1874 the Frere Bridge was built over the Orange River which was on the farm of Uitspanning. On 20 January 1938 the Frere Bridge was replaced by the current Hertzog Bridge resulting in the Cape and Free State now being connected. The farm Uitspanning was owned in the early 1904 by a Mr Koot van Rooy, a lawyer of the state, he managed to purchase it after many years of negotiations. In 1961, my father then bought this farm.

 

In 1980, after I inherited the farm, horse stables were erected for my thoroughbred horses.

In 2008 these stables were sold and transformed into a 5 star guesthouse.

​