The Bend was first developed by the Doney family in 1876. Alfred Doney arrived in South Africa as an indentured coachman and after completing his contract he moved to the Nottingham Road area which then formed part of the district of Weenen. The family first made their home in a cluster of wattle and daub rondavels directly across the river from the present House. The remains of these buildings can still be found together with what appear to be the graves of children. These provide us with a sad record of the hardship that these hardy settlers endured. The present owners met the granddaughter of the family, then in her 80's when they bought in 1983. She had been granted the usufruct of a portion of the farm when it changed hands in the 1920's.