Written by Jean Biesenbach, Former Chairman, Board of Trustees

The article ''Gert’s next move?'' (Montagu Mail November 2009 ) about the possibility of moving the Tourist Office to the KWV building in Long Street(pictured right), provides an opportunity to clear up any misconceptions about the building in question; to explain the purpose of the whole complex and to tell the story of a major achievement by the Montagu Museum.

The huge industrial KWV building complex and adjacent cooperage building on the corner of Long and Kohler Streets is the property of the museum and was bought from the KWV in 2001 with own funds. The municipality has never had a stake in the buildings, and the Board of Trustees have not agreed in principle that the Tourism Office should be relocated to the museum art gallery in Kohler Street.

According to the authoritative Conservation Study Montagu, the KWV buildings that date from the late 1800s to 1937 are fine examples of industrial architecture that forms an integral part of the Long Street streetscape and architectural heritage of the town.

These buildings played a key role in the history of the wine and spirits industry in Montagu. The first commercial brandy in South Africa was distilled here, and muscadel and sherries were also made. As the wine industry grew, more buildings were added onto the original flat-roofed double storey house on the corner, resulting in the unique conglomerate façade of today. The buildings fell into disuse when the new KWV distillery across the road opened in 1948.

When the Trustees bought the old distillery and cooperage building in 2001, they had been standing derelict for more than 40 years and were in a horrific state of neglect. Undaunted, the Trustees realised the exceptional potential of the complex which was situated in Long Street near the other museums. The enormous area under roof would be perfect for a new extended museum complex which could house the many special collections that could not otherwise be exhibited due to a critical lack of space. The huge open air courtyard also presented endless possibilities.

Experts were called in and Martine Burger, Gawie Fagan and final year B Tech students all submitted their proposals to define the scope of the new museum complex. The consensus was that the Ar de Vries fossil collection would be a major exhibit. There was space for a small auditorium. The cement tanks would be opened up to house small special collections. The L-shaped interior of the house on the corner was the perfect venue for an art gallery, where the museum collection of 29 works by François Krige would be exhibited and art exhibitions could be held on a regular basis. The agricultural collection would be an open air exhibit in the courtyard. The interior spaces and courtyard could serve as venues for various types of functions.

The Trustees approved the proposals and started on the mammoth undertaking. Money was - and still is - the overriding factor determining how many years it would take to complete the project. In 2002 and 2003 the tanks were opened, tanks demolished for the auditorium stage and walls removed for the ground floor space of the gallery. The huge roof expanse was repaired, gutters replaced and the complete front façade restored to its former glory. In 2004 the Cooperage building was restored and Room with a Loom opened. In 2005 the courtyard façade, open roof section and old clay boundary wall were restored.

In 2006 it was time to attend to the interior, and the most beautiful and valuable space in the building - the gallery. The rotten wooden first floor landings were replaced with new walkways; the ceilingless roof covered with sisolation; windows waterproofed, the floor of the entrance area raised to provide a level walking space throughout; the interior whitewashed and gallery lighting installed in the four exhibition areas.

Willie Bester constructed the staircase with its unique sculptured railing and in November 2007 the gallery opened with a major exhibition of Bester’s work, seen by 3000 visitors. At the same time Willie Bester became the first patron of the Montagu Museum Art Gallery. Exhibitions by renowned South African artists Olivia Scholnick and Conrad Theys and local artists followed. In 2008 a new toilet block was erected at the back of the courtyard and completed in 2009.

Since 2001 the community has benefited from the use of the KWV building complex. Muscadel Festivals, Little Karoo Young Wine Shows, the Youth Arts Festivals, the Rose Show, auctions, private functions, museum functions, lectures, open air markets and exhibitions have been held here.

Although a huge amount of work still has to be done, it is clear that the museum has made massive strides towards realising its goal of an extended museum complex in the KWV buildings.

To date more than R500 000 from own funds generated by the museum have been spent - an almost incredible achievement for a rural museum of this size. The museum undoubtedly deserves the support and help of the community in continuing to complete the project, which will greatly benefit the town.