The original property was built in the early 1900’s. The Thesen Family were next-door neighbours. During that period, the property belonged to an English lady named ‘Tilbrook’. It changed hands when a ‘Captain Weller’ bought it, a port captain of the Durban harbour.
Another English lady, Diana Stanier, lived there in the 1940’s. A couple named Wilkinson were the next owners and later sold the property to Allan Perrins. A note on Perrins may be of interest: he came from the very wealthy English Perrins family (Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce) and as a captain in the Welsh Guards had been Equerry to Edward, the Prince of Wales (subsequently crowned King Edward VIII).
When first converted to a hotel it was named Fair Acres. The name changed to Madison Manor in 2013 when the Huisamen family purchased it. Louise while in Pretoria saw pictures of the hotel and within twenty-four hours placed an offer on the property. After procuring it with the financial wizardry of her husband, Michael; over the ensuing two years she fashioned the hotel into much of its present thematic motif and splendour.
Unfortunately, the 2017 Knysna Fires followed by the Covid 19 outbreak in 2020 and additional challenges resulted in the sale of the property in 2022 to its present owners, Otis E. & Patricia A. Rounds. Hailing from the continental US they have put tremendous zestful vitality into the hotel since its purchase. Thus, now under their stewardship as Issaquena Heights Boutique Hotel, it is poised to become an additional luxurious offering of the Southern Cape!
The original property was called Fair Acres and was built in the early 1900’s. The Thesen Family (after whom the Thesen Island Estate is named) were next-door neighbours. During that period, the property belonged to an elegant English lady by the name of Tilbrook. It changed hands after it was occupied by a Captain Weller who was Port Captain of the Durban harbour.
Another English lady by the name of Diana Stanier lived there in the 1940’s. A couple named Wilkinson, was the next proud owners and they later sold the property to Allan Perrins, who lived there with his sister, Susan Backhouse. A note on Allan Perrins may be of interest: he came from the very wealthy English Perrins family (Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce) and as a captain in the Welsh Guards had been Equerry to Edward, the Prince of Wales. (Subsequently, King Edward VIII) approximately in the 1930’s.
The name changed from Fair Acres to Madison Manor in 2013 when the Huisamen family purchased it. Louise while in Pretoria saw pictures of the hotel online and within twenty-four hours she flew down and placed an offer on the property. After procuring it with the financial wizardry of her husband, Michael; over the ensuing two years they fashioned the hotel into much of its present thematic motif and splendour.
