24 hour hotel name change

Posted on Sat February 8, 2025.

After an iconic visit by Bobby Kennedy to Stellenbosch University's Simonsberg residence in 1966 they started calling themselves 'Die Withuis'. The name has stuck. When Die Withuis alumni (76-80) visited us we followed suite with our own name change.

The 1966 SA  visit of US presidential hopeful Bobby Kennedy to South Africa and the way it was ignored by the Nationalist government at the time almost reached a tipping point with the invitation of the house committee of Stellenbosch University's Simonsberg residence for him to address the res. Threatened with expulsion by the university authorities if 'anything went wrong' the res committee under the leadership of Willem van Drimmelin 

The story is well told via the link below. Well worth a view. 

Click here for the doccie on Bobby Kennedy's visit Simonsberg

For our part Barrydale's very own  Dominee Ollie is a product of Simonsberg residence and it's thanks to him that three years ago he organised the first Withuis  Barrydale reunion with the Karoo Art Hotel as party central. 

It's become a much looked forward event for the hotel and is a great example of one of favourite forms of booking - a hotel take over. 

Further Reading

Big News. Tony Jackman to teach the Art of Retro Karoo Food 2-4 Oct Mon July 13, 2026

If you've got his sell out cookbook or you follow him in the Daily Maverick you'll appreciate what a great experience too solid days with Tony Jackman as cook, raconteur and coach is going to be.

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The Hub & Spokes of the Karoo Art Hotel

If the hotel is the hub what are the spokes that surround us ?

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Albert Frost 28 August 7.30pm. Fri July 10, 2026

Check into the hotel on Friday afternoon and kick off a Barrydale weekend in the company of this legendary Blues Rock musician

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