Historical Miller & Distiller

Babylonstoren; Franschhoek; On-site; ZAR 100,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Babylonstoren in Franschhoek invites you to join a team showcasing a historic grain watermill and copper still at Soetmelksvlei. This living history site brings late 19th century Boland life to visitors through interactive demonstrations and performances.

The role emphasizes engaging guests, explaining traditional milling and distillation, and maintaining a hospitality-friendly environment, including weekends.

Qualifications

• Matric or higher qualification preferred.
• Team experience in hospitality or tourism is advantageous.
• Fluent in Afrikaans and English.
• Reliable and well organized; weekend availability required.
• Willing to learn milling and distillation techniques.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily demonstrations of grain milling and basic distillation for the public and school groups.
• Prepare milling and distilling areas for demonstrations, maintain equipment, and tidy demonstration spaces.
• Engage visitors by explaining the work and the historical context, answering questions.
• Package flour produced in demonstrations for sale and maintain adequate stock.

Skills

Afrikaans & English

Public facing

Teamwork

Education

Matric or higher

Tools

Milling equipment

Distillation equipment

Job description

Babylonstoren is looking for a passionate team of individuals eager to work in a historical grain watermill and distillation facility. The ideal candidates have a love for history, exceptional people skills, and preferably, hands‑on knowledge of milling and/or distillation.

The successful candidates will demonstrate the functioning of a historic grain watermill and a copper still to the public at a tourism site called Soetmelksvlei. Soetmelksvlei is a living history experience where life on a Boland farm in the late 19th century comes alive through activities and demonstrations.

Requirements

• Formal or informal training in grain milling and/or distillation is preferred, although we welcome applicants with a background in any technical craft or practice that would be interested to learn the art of milling and distilling.
• Matric or a relevant higher qualification would be advantageous.
• Experience with working in a small team.
• Fluent in both written and spoken Afrikaans and English.
• Exceptional people skills – both public-facing in a hospitality context and working within a small team internally. Previous experience in a hospitality, tourism or theatre context would be beneficial.
• Reliable and well organised.
• Able to work in a fast-paced, guest-facing environment, according to hospitality hours (including weekends).
• Creative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily demonstrations of grain milling and basic distillation tasks and activities to the public and school groups.
• Prepare the milling and distilling areas for daily demonstrations, production and de-briefing after daily activities: prep the fire for the still, check the mechanical elements of the mill, stock the supplies, tidy and clean demonstration areas, perform general maintenance, and liaise with the activities manager.
• Engage with visitors by explaining the work being carried out, as well as the historical context, and answer any questions that they might have.
• Package flour made in demonstration areas for sale in the Soetmelksvlei shop and maintain adequate stock levels.