Friday July 29th saw 22 members of the media join Sandstone management at Sandstone Estates for a special briefing on farming and tourism development at Sandstone Estates and Sandstone Heritage Trust. Members of the party were drawn from farming business and tourism publications as well as national newspapers.
Guests from the Reef area were flown in to Maluti Airfield by a chartered aircraft while local Free State press drove through to join their up country colleagues. The group were met at Vailima siding by David Scales, Business Development Manager of Sandstone and taken through to the Hoekfontein main complex by train on the Sandstone 2ft narrow gauge railway.
After introductions the group toured the farm to view commercial farming activities as well as the preservation efforts of Sandstone Heritage Trust.
A presentation followed in the restored station building at Hoekfontein where all aspects of farming and tourism developments for the future were revealed to the journalists. This not only covered Sandstone but the positive impact this would have on Eastern Free State tourism as well. A number of local residents and local government officials were also present to present their thoughts and take questions. An intensive question time took the party through to lunch in the Waenhuis where there was much discussion on what the visitors had seen.
The day ended with a final run on the narrow gauge steam train to Grootdraai where a group photograph was taken to round off a most successful day.
We will be monitoring the coverage continuously and posting the selections on the site.
