Property
Description
Property Description
44 Bath Street, Montagu. Known as The Vault, it is one of Montagu’s landmark buildings: a late Victorian bank and manager’s residence built in 1899, on a 1 465 m² erf in the town centre, with a clean title and a well-documented sales history. The overview below sets out what the property offers and how we would take it to market.
Few properties in the Western Cape carry a story like this one. Built in 1899 for the African Banking Corporation as its Montagu branch and bank manager’s residence, The Vault later became the town’s Standard Bank and has since been home to lawyers’ offices, a restaurant and an art gallery. Today it is a declared Provincial Heritage Site, and one of the most recognisable buildings on Bath Street. Dutch Renaissance Revival gables, ornate broekie-lace cast iron, grey-and-white masonry and a wide front veranda with arched entrances give it the kind of character that cannot be built today, and a frontage made for foot traffic.
The main residence
Inside, a long, wide passage with original wooden floors, timber door frames, high skirtings and high ceilings sets the tone. The main house has four spacious double bedrooms (three with air-conditioning), two bathrooms and a guest toilet. Original fireplaces warm three of the rooms, including the lounge. The farmhouse-style kitchen opens to the dining area and a kitchen nook, and flows through to a braai and entertainment room. There is a separate laundry.
Street-front business space
Two generous rooms face Bath Street. The first is the old bank chamber, which still has its original fireplace and suits a gallery, shop, café or reception. The second has its own street entrance, a kitchenette, scullery and toilet, so it can run as an independent office, studio or rental unit while the rear of the property stays private.
Garden, pool and cottages
At the back, a private, fenced garden with a pool, paved sundeck and semi-covered patio looks out to the surrounding mountains. The pool area has its own bathroom. Two separate cottages, a one-bedroom apartment and a bachelor flat, sit in the rear garden and suit guests, extended family or rental income. There is a single garage, a covered carport and secure parking for at least four vehicles, along with a solar geyser and fibre internet.
Features
Erf Size: 1 465 m²
Under Roof: ± 467 m² (est.)
Zoning: Local Business
Four double bedrooms (three with air-conditioning)
Two bathrooms and a guest toilet
Original fireplaces in three rooms, including the lounge
Farmhouse-style kitchen with dining area and kitchen nook
Braai and entertainment room
Separate laundry
Two street-front business rooms (old bank chamber; second with own entrance, kitchenette, scullery and toilet)
Private fenced garden with pool, paved sundeck and semi-covered patio
Pool-area bathroom
One-bedroom cottage and a bachelor flat in the rear garden
Single garage, covered carport and secure parking for at least four vehicles
Solar geyser
Fibre internet
Declared Provincial Heritage Site
Area Description
Montagu is a historic town in the Langeberg Municipality of the Western Cape, set at the western end of the Little Karoo about two hours by road from Cape Town and reached through the scenic Cogmanskloof pass. Known for its hot mineral springs, Cape Dutch and Victorian architecture, vineyards, olive and fruit farms and its rock-climbing and hiking trails, the town draws a steady flow of tourists and weekend visitors. Bath Street is the main commercial spine of the town centre, lined with heritage buildings, shops, restaurants and guesthouses, which gives a landmark property such as The Vault strong passing foot traffic and high visibility.
Area Amenities
Montagu town centre – 230 m
Montagu Village Market – 210 m
Montagu Museum – 210 m
SPAR Montagu – 350 m
Montagu Primary School – 390 m