Greyton is a sought after Western Cape country village, with wide tree lined streets and beautiful homes, is known to lure those with a taste for all things fine, yet tranquil and pure.
Residents here have gone back to basics, such as knowing their neighbours and extending good old fashioned hospitality while supporting local industry wherever possible. Weekend mornings see farmers and town residents adding flavour to sociable gatherings in the centre of town, abuzz with locals indulging in delectable offerings at elegant eateries, art galleries and wellness facilities.
Property professionals here say one of the many pleasures of welcoming those in search of property to buy, is without a doubt the assurance that one can safely recommend superior quality hospitality. As a result of a number of residents also owning businesses, the industry caters for a sophisticated clientele ranging from young farming families to retirees.
The free spirited lifestyle of this town is well known for attracting artists, some who arrived to enjoy outdoor painting in idyllic surroundings, and never left. Many have invested in residential properties where art studios are part of homes, while others rent commercial space in the business centre for exhibiting and retail purposes.
As a member of the Theewaterskloof Municipality, Greyton falls within the picturesque Overberg region, close to Bosmanskloof and McGregor. The naming of Greyton goes back to agricultural roots when in 1854 Herbert Vigne founded a freehold agricultural village on his farm Weltevreden. After keeping two small portions for himself and bequeathed the remainder of the farm to the proprietors of the erven as commonage, the town was named after Sir George Grey, who was Governor of the Cape at the time.
Historians say horticultural pursuits were prioritized from the earliest stages, seen in the familiar sight of long and narrow erven with large gardens and water running in "leiwater" furrows through the village. Quaint cottages were built in the rural Cape Vernacular architectural style that remains mostly in tact today. Properties feature traditional fruit and vegetable gardens behind houses, with verandas built close to the street side, resulting in Herbert Vigne to be remembered for leaving behind a village with unsurpassed beauty.
What is particularly heartening when visiting Greyton is seeing how locals have taken ownership of the town’s unique character and heritage, in preserving it for future generations. The town offers young families the facilities of three local schools and a vast variety of residential property choices, including freestanding houses where plot sizes vary depending on the specific location, as well as agricultural land of all proportions.
Municipal ratings show average freehold property prices in Greyton in a 2nd suburban placing, currently standing at R1.7-million, compared to the R2.6-million of its first ranking neighbour Theewaterskloof, followed by third ranked Villiersdorp at R921 000. Lightstone shows average freehold property prices here to have grown from R744 000 in 2004, to just over R2-million in a six year period.
For those seeking outdoor entertainment in this unpolluted environment, some of the Western Cape‘s finest fynbos, pear and apple farms can be viewed while enjoying hiking, walking, horse-riding, or along mountain biking trails.