The two colonial style houses with elements of Cape Dutch Revival – typical of that time – were constructed in 1927. Humewood was still fairly undeveloped in the early 1900s. During the 1920s, though, the area earned a reputation as the “playground” of Port Elizabeth, with its swimming beaches, the development of the promenade, Happy Valley, camp grounds, roller skating rink, and bathhouse. Some of these structures have since been lost as a result of the flood of 1968, and the beach front today looks very different from back then. But remnants of the original promenade and the slipway – which was used in ship repairs – hint back to those early days.

Junita bought the first Conifer house in 1996, and the second in 2018. She lovingly restored both buildings, being careful to retain their stylistic integrity, including their characteristic wood flooring and high ceilings. The stylish rooms are equipped with all the modern amenities guests may need, yet also capture the essence of days gone by. Paintings and old photographs depicting the history of the beach front adorn the dining room and lounge walls, paying homage to the past. Junita expertly merged old and new by creating a homely yet elegant, contemporary and eclectic interior that complements its colonial exterior.

The lush garden with refreshing swimming pool was Junita’s creation. Large coco palms and wild banana trees were planted to hem Conifer in from the outside world. The terrain was very rocky – they sometimes needed a jackhammer to plant the trees! But they also found water here, and today use their own, pure, borehole water on the premises. The garden now provides a peaceful ambience, which spills into the rooms via their private entrances. Here guests find a hide-away where they can immerse themselves in the symphony of bird songs, and reminisce about simpler times.