Historical Miller

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 will be a living history museum where life on a Boland farm in the late 19th century will come alive through activities and demonstrations by costumed interpreters.

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), in historical costume.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 and liquor made in demonstration areas for sale in the Soetmelksvlei shop and maintain adequate stock levels.

Please email your CV (with references) and a covering letter to [email protected].

---