The Erasmus family’s history is closely interwoven with property development in eastern Pretoria.
An imposing landmark near the cross-section of the N1 and R21 highways in eastern Pretoria, Erasmus Kasteel is the historic home of the Erasmus family. Built between 1903 and 1904 on a hill on the farm Garsfontein 374 by Jochemus Erasmus, with an inheritance from his father, Carel, this remarkable building has left an indelible mark on the area.
Designed by Frans van der Ben, a Dutch architect from Pretoria, the Art Nouveau structure has informally been designated many different names over the years. Notably, after an Al Debbo movie about ghosts was filmed there in the 1950s, Bella Vista (the original name), became “Die Spookhuis” (The Haunted House).
In later years, Pretorians started referring to the house as Erasmus Castle or simply The Castle, inspired by how much it resembled a fairy tale castle. Denel became the owner of the property when it built its headquarters close by.
The Erasmus family has been influential landowners in the area for a long time. Suburbs such as Erasmusrand, Erasmuskloof, Erasmia and Elarduspark in the vicinity of Erasmus Castle are all derivative names. (Elardus is a common middle name in the family.) Even the Zwartkop suburb references the Erasmus family, as Daniel Erasmus settled on a farm with the same name in the mid-19th century.
Now Atterbury and the Erasmus Trust are developing the last remaining portion of the original Erasmus land as Castle Gate. Situated next to the N1 highway with easy access to the R21, this landmark mixed-use development covers 65 hectares and is probably the best located large development land left in and around Pretoria.
