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He resided at the stone house ‘Hillrise’, Hillrise Road, St. James and died on the 29 March 1914,

aged 76. The house still exists.

The Hiddingh Family and Ohlsson’s Cape Breweries

The hotel and grounds (erven 89823/30/42) were bought from King’s insolvent estate on 19
March 1886 (D.T. 269) by Dr. Jonas Michiel Hiddingh. On 29 March 1886 Dr. Hiddingh

acquired the final erf (No. 89840 D.T. 401) which makes up the property of the New Kings

Complex.

Dr. Hiddingh was the owner of Newlands House as well as Martienssen Brewery. He also built

Cannon Brewery. His brother, Cornelius Hiddingh was the Consul General in the Netherlands to
the Orange Free State, but was tragically killed in a rail accident in 1866. Dr. Hiddingh, who had

no children of his own, adopted Cornelius’ son Michiel, then aged 7, and brought him to South
Africa shortly after his father’s death.

Dr. Hiddingh’s involvement with the brewing of beer involved him in the buying of various

public houses as outlets for his beer. It was this interest which caused him to buy the Kings

Hotel. Regrettably he died of a heart attack in December 1888 less than two and a half years after
buying the Kings Hotel. Michiel (now aged 29) inherited Newlands House and the various public

houses. This included the Kings Hotel. Michiel knew nothing about the running of hotels and
immediately in January 1889 let all his inherited public houses, including the Kings Hotel, to

Anders Ohlsson of Ohlsson’s Cape Breweries under a 10 year lease. This lease appears to have
been extended for the remainder of Michiel’s life.

Michiel was a colourful character, giving sweets and whisky to flower-sellers and fitting out
hobos with new suits. He was regarded by many as eccentric. He never married, but a whirlwind

romance in 1885 on board a ship on the way to Holland saw him engaged. He wrote to his uncle

requesting £500 in order that his banns of marriage could be read and later, after the wedding,
could go on honeymoon. Dr. Jonas was furious, forwarded him £200 and threatened to exclude

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