Watermills of South Africa 🌍

Whilst there are just a few remains of windmills in South Africa (not counting the hundreds of thousands of windpumps), there is a rich collection of remaining watermills.

A number of examples have been restored to working order, and produce stoneground flour for sale.

Remaining Mills

Bathurst

Bradshaw:

woollen mill

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Elim

On a Moravian Mission Station

Genadendal

On a Moravian Mission Station

Mamre

On a Moravian Mission Station

Newlands, Cape Town

Josephine Mill:

Jospehine Mill is the only surviving operational watermill in Cape Town.

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Oudtshoorn

Old Mill Restaurant:

The mill was used for roughly 100 years to mill the wheat of the Cango Valley, before closing down in 1920 and spending more than 80 years being used for storage. Building restored 2003.

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Swellendam

The Drostdy Museum:

A recreated watermill, in full working order, which helps celebrate the rich milling heritage of the Swellendam area. The museum also has a horse mill in another building.

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Swellendam

Old Mill Guest Cottages:

Now a B&B - no machinery remains, but there are a number of millstones in the garden, and the mill race flows on by.

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Swellendam

Rheenendal Watermill:

Now houses a restaurant, but machinery is retained inside.

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Last updated 16/09/2025