Our next TIMS Online Presentation will be on the 27th of September at 19:30 hour (Berlin time)
We are delighted to invite historians, technologists, and mill enthusiasts to the next session in our online presentation series, dedicated to exploring mill heritage worldwide. This time, our focus turns to South Africa, where mills have played a crucial role in both rural life and technological development. Our guest speaker, Andy Selfe, will guide us through the fascinating history and evolution of watermills in South Africa. The one-hour presentation will combine historical context with a close look at engineering details, offering fresh insights into the cultural and technical significance of these structures. Join us online to discover how watermills shaped both daily life and technological progress in South Africa.
Andy Selfe (74) is based in the Elgin Valley of the Western Cape, South Africa. Trained as an agricultural machinery mechanic, he holds a City & Guilds Full Technological Certificate and has spent most of his career working with engines and farm equipment. His fascination with mills began through collecting stationary engines, many of which historically powered mills. Nineteen years ago, Andy became involved with the watermill at Compagnes Drift/Beaumont Wines in Bot River, installing one of his own engines to power the mill during the four years required to restore its water drive. During this time, he was also called upon to assist with technical challenges at Mostert’s Mill and La Motte. Following the devastating fire at Mostert’s Mill, Andy led the reconstruction of all its working parts. In parallel, together with the same team, he built a replica watermill at Soetmelksvlei, part of the Babylonstoren estate. Over the years, he has studied and worked on many mills across South Africa, combining technical expertise with historical insight. Andy has been an active member of TIMS since 2009.
If you are not a TIMS member but want to participate, please fill this registration form.
Previous presentations can be found in the Digital Library (for members only).
