All About Old Joe
There is a quaint, eye-catching stone that those travelling to Mbombela Lodge from Gauteng will see while on the road. Locals know and love it, but travellers who are not familiar to the area will not know who you are speaking about when you mention “Old Joe.” “He” has often been mistaken for a person in conversation, as he is a much-loved part of the local history.
Ever since the Schoeman’s Kloof road was a dirt track between Machadodorp and Nelspruit, an alternative to the N4, Old Joe has been an interesting feature en route.
He stands proudly at Patatas Nek Pass on the right-hand side looking over the breath taking Schoemans Kloof. Patatas Nek got its name from a bygone era when wagons use to outspan at the top of the pass to rest and water their oxen after the hefty climb. At this spot, they used to cook up their Patatas for the evening meal.
Way back in the late 1920s, Joe Barbas, a foremen, helped unearth a 2.5 meter high rock while working on the building of the original main road. At one time the rock was used as a gate post, but since noticing that the rock resembled a human, with a huge paunch, Old Joe was turned into a human caricature taking on all kinds of features and often resembling different famous people.
From the get-go this fascinatingly sculptured rock was placed upright, people started slapping paint on it. Early on, the paintings were quite simple and uncomplicated. Over the years, other artists decided to get more creative and paint more complex designs.
At one time he was painted as a gentleman, complete in black tuxedo and bow tie. Several other local artists have taken care of him over the years. About ten years ago a local artist and TRAC took over and made sure that Old Joe looks spiffy at all times. At the time Old Joe was a rugby player with a large paunch. Since then Old Joe has been transformed many times, sometimes a cricket player other times a cat. He has at times being the Pumas mascot or even mother and child.
Each time Old Joe gets a new look, it takes about a litre of paint and six hours of work to transform him. Today he stands proudly on a platform, surveying the stunning surroundings. When travelling on the Schoeman’s Kloof road, do as the locals do and take a break from your journey at Old Joe. Stop and stretch your legs and take some photos of you and your family around this local landmark.
About Mbombela Lodge
Situated in the heart of Mbombela, our lodge offers guests of all kinds a peaceful stay. You can find Mbombela accommodation to suit your budget when you choose to stay with us. Find out more about our accommodation by browsing through our website today.
