ABC Bank Building

At the height of the Second Ostrich Feather Boom (1900–1914) numerous banks established themselves in this prosperous and thriving town. This well-designed sandstone building was erected for the African Bank Corporation (est. in Oudtshoorn in 1879) in the early 1900’s. It later amalgamated with Standard Bank of SA in the 1920s. The architect is unknown but later additions to the back were designed by Simpson and Bridgman. The building has several features typical of the banking-trade such as a double door for the main entrance which is strategically set on the corner of the two streets, a voluminous Maxwell & Chubb safe, a manager’s office and a special window strategically placed near the ceiling to serve as a "look-out" onto the tellers’ counters for security purposes. Attractive pressed ceilings and fireplaces are typical of the late-Victorian style of architecture.

The banks in Oudtshoorn were so client-friendly and eager to do business that they opened their doors for a couple of hours on Sundays to accommodate their numerous Jewish customers who were indisposed on the Saturday Sabbath. At the time the lucrative ostrich feather business was dominated by Jewish feather merchants.

Today the building is once more a popular gathering-place, but now the attraction is the excellent coffee served at the counter of Beans about Coffee.