One would not typically expect to discover a working dairy farm in a city these days. Nestled between Pretoria and Johannesburg in Nellmapius Rd, Irene, Centurion sits a lovely gem. For many years, the Van der Byl family have graciously invited both neighbourhood residents and tourists to their farm, allowing both young and old to experience life on a dairy farm without having to travel far. Although Irene Farm has grown and diversified its offerings over the years, it has maintained its classic farm vibe.
History of Irene Farm
Irene has a lengthy and colourful past. Hugo Alois Nellmapius was the first owner of the farm, and he named it after his daughter Irene, whose name in Greek means peace. It is noteworthy that every suburb that was built over time on the vast farmlands still has a feeling of "peace" about it. After Johannes Albertus van der Byl purchased the farm at auction from the late H A Nellmapius' estate in 1896, the property's primary focus changed to dairy farming.
Residents of Irene can wander down the green alleys to purchase a litre of fresh milk, farm products, and tantalising sweets. They can also visit the calves, dine in the café beneath the trees, or just take in the charm and peace of the farm.
Farm activities and costs
You can go on a free self-guided tour of Irene Farm. You can also enjoy a wonderful interactive history lesson that includes the farm's cows. Here you can watch cows getting milked at their viewing gallery and learn how it was done back in the day. You can assemble and paint a wooden boat; this is a fun competition to see who can paint the best and who can propel their boat down the moat the fastest. You can also bring your bicycles for an afternoon or early morning ride.
If you feel like doing something more relaxing, you can go craft or milkshake tasting for R150 per person or gin tasting for R200 per person.
The Irene Farm Deli
In addition to stocking all the traditional favourites, the deli also offers other deli-served foods. A few of the new options include fresh bread, cold meats, cheeses, platters, and pre-cooked dinners.
As well as ordering off Uber eats, Irene Farm Deli now delivers to Midstream, including fresh bread, cold cuts, farmhouse cheeses, platters of sweet and savoury foods, home-cooked dinners, and all of your daily necessities directly to you.
Restaurants
The Deck
Make The Deck your favourite gathering place because it's a terrific place to catch up with loved ones and friends, with stunning views over the farm, a positive atmosphere and a welcoming staff. Fresh and filling home-cooked meals have been the focus of the delectable a la carte menu creation. Be sure to sample their scones with their renowned Irene Farm thick cream when you visit Irene Farm.
The Barn Restaurant
The Barn Restaurant is a family-friendly restaurant that provides cosy indoor dining and outdoor seats among the beautiful oak trees, making it the ideal family gathering place. The hours for their delectable a la carte breakfast menu are from 8 am to 11 am every morning, and the hours for their a la carte lunch menu are from 11 am to 5 pm every day.
Buffet offerings
They have buffet selections that will guarantee you'll love your stay at their family-friendly restaurant.
The Saturday brunch buffet generally starts a little later than other days from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, allowing you to enjoy their farm-fresh breakfast at your leisure.
Sunday mornings are also a delight, and what better way to begin the day than with their delectable Breakfast Buffet, which is available from 8:00 am to 10:30 am.
You can partake in a home-cooked buffet at their famed Sunday lunch buffet, which is served from 12 am to 3 pm. In typical Sunday lunch fashion, their filling buffet offers a variety of tempting treats that will appeal to all appetites.
If you want to have an unforgettable outing with your family or friends, then Irene Farm is a must-see. Irene Farm is a place where you can kick your feet up and relax while your children have fun in the sun. Send an email or call them to hold your place.
Image credit: The Irene Dairy Farm yard by Monxdavies | Wikipedia | CC BY 3.0 | bit.ly/3Bq8Yjd