Where Ballito Began - The Original Hulett Farmhouse, Shortens Country Estate

Around 1900, before Ballito had a name, Horace Hulett, son of Natal sugar pioneer Sir Liege Hulett, built this farmhouse among the cane fields of Bogmore. His nephew Peter and wife Vera later made it their lifelong home. In 1992 it became Shortens Country House, a much-loved boutique hotel where couples married under the trees, before becoming a family home once more.

More than a century on, it sits at the heart of secure Shortens Country Estate, and its character is intact.

Wide shaded verandahs wrap around the house in true Natal style. Inside are honey-toned Rhodesian pine floors, stained-glass doors and tall columns. The formal dining room seats twelve. The kitchen is generous, with a chandelier above a large island, a double oven hearth and a walk-in pantry. It flows into a relaxed family lounge that opens onto a north-facing patio, the pool courtyard and a firepit for long summer evenings. There is also a large bar for entertaining.

The house has five bedrooms:

a master suite with a garden-facing bay window and a dressing area

three further bedrooms that share a full bathroom

a private guest suite with its own entrance and bathroom

Additional features include domestic bathroom, pool, gas geyser for the kitchen and main bedroom and electric geyser for the rest, aircons in the family room, dining room and 3 of the bedrooms.

Outside, there is a double garage, extra parking and direct access to the estate’s clubhouse and library. Ballito’s centre and the N2 are minutes away.

Few homes come with a story like this one. This one is ready for its next chapter.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this listing, the information provided, including property size, monthly levies, and municipal rates, is for guidance only and may be subject to change. LuxLiv Property Group and its agents cannot be held liable for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies.

Properties sold within the Waterfall Precinct, Gauteng, are under leasehold rights which benefit the purchaser costs. Please ask your agent for details.