The mill at Gumtree is the tallest sandstone structure in South Africa. It is even taller than the Union Buildings in Pretoria which are also built from the same sandstone material taken from the Ficksburg area. Getting to the cache involves some driving down a dirt road or two, and some on-foot exploration in the building itself. Be aware of any muggles when finding this cache. The local children enjoy playing around the mill. Make sure it is hidden well again once found.
The founder Gumtree mill was a British man by the name of Charles Stevens. He made a name for himself by establishing a number of trading stores in Lesotho as well as a number of farms just on the border, in the Eastern Free State. In 1907, the Bloemfontein railway was connected with Gumtree which soon became the hub of the area. The name “Gumtree” comes from the number of Bluegum trees that litter the area. Stevens was offered to change the name, but preferred its present name.
A community was soon formed, thanks to the high grain output in the area as well as train station. In 1908, a government school was established and its initial 33 pupils soon grew to about 77. A post office, blacksmith and some trading stores were soon formed, owing to the high levels of goods made available between the station and Lesotho. The mill itself was thriving, and in 1916 amalgamated with the Orange Free State Milling Company.
The life of the community soon came to an end in December 1958. The mill was completely stripped and all parts were moved to Kempton Park in Gauteng, where a more modern mill was waiting. The Ficksburg Farming Co-operative took ownership of the derelict mill, and so it stands today.