Ample Opportunities for the Avid Investor

Important and Factual History of the Building

Founded in 1921 by Jacob Frankel, with some help from Joffe Marks, Tiger Brands Limited -formerly known as Tiger Oats Limited - was built on the strength of family businesses and the spirit of entrepreneurship.

From research it is apparent that the Tiger Oats complex was the origins of what is now Tiger Brands (the buildings have even been featured on their website), and it was of such substance in the town that the local rugby team was essentially drawn from the staff.

Originally known as Tiger Oats, Tiger Brands first product was a breakfast oatmeal brand called Jungle Oats. A product that is still produced by Tiger Brands. The product was first conceived by a Mr Frankel towards the end of the 19th century and was finally launched in 1925. Tiger Oat's first Mill was opened in Moorreesburg, Western Cape. A second mill was opened in Maitland, Cape Town when demand outgrew the Moorreesburg's mill's capacity in 1930. The Moorreesburg mill was abandoned in about 1987.

(source Wikipedia)

The Tiger Oats complex is a sad example of how buildings which could and should have a life, are neglected until such time they become unusable. Similar structures internationally (waterfront complexes in New York and London, for example) have become sought after residential units. The Old Castle Brewery in Cape Town, to which it was compared by the NMC, is evidence of a creative solution.

Stating the obvious, structures should always have function. A personal suggestion is that the complex could be appealing to the film industry. To fulfil a developing need in the Cape, here is a large, now (not intentionally) open plan building on a fairly large erf, which could be adapted for such use. One would expect overheads to be far lower than in or near the city.

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