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In 1912 Bertha Williams had plans drawn by well-known architect William John Delbridge
for the addition of a stoep with balcony and elements of this extension can be seen today.

(Fig. 3.38.) In 1917 architects A & W Reid and Delbridge drew plans for minor additions to

the existing Kimberley Cottage (2 Main Road) lying hard along the Kimberley Road
boundary. The cottage adjoined Kimberley House and comprised two bedrooms a kitchen,

dining room and yard. The additions were for a stoep and ‘cosy corner’ along the sunny
Kimberley Road side of the cottage which appears also to have been the entrance to the

cottage, whereas today it is from Main Road. (Fig. 3.39.)

After the boundary wall of Kimberley House was built a Victorian letterbox was inserted into
it at the request of John Molteno – no doubt even when on holiday he would need to deal

with the many complex matters arising at the time. The box was closed many years ago and
thereafter deteriorated badly. Most of the front panel was stolen recently by metal thieves and

the remainder has now been removed for restoration by the KB Historical Association. (Figs.

3.40 & 3.41.)

James Williams’ estate was finally wound up in 1920. His wife Bertha had the lot divided

and Kimberley House and Kimberley Cottage were sold to Rose Taylor for a considerable
£5,100. She also bought the furniture for £500. Bertha retained the plot behind Kimberley

House which included a small cottage, The Wigwam.

Rose Taylor renamed the properties Mentone and Mentone Cottage and was living there in
1931. It seems she had no interest in running an hotel and early street directories list the

property as vacant in some years. In 1938, writing from the Mount Nelson Hotel, she
requested permission to demolish the property in terms of the Housing Act of 1920. An

inspector was sent out and found the property unoccupied. He also queried if the old building

was to be demolished with the extension known as Kimberley Cottage. It seems it was only
Mentone she was planning to demolish.