The Goat Tower

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The Goat Tower at Fairview, Paarl
The Goat Tower at Fairview, Paarl

The Goat Tower at Fairview Wine and Cheese estate is a landmark in the Paarl winelands of South Africa. It is the first of three documented structures of this kind. The Goat Tower was built in 1981 by Fairview owner Charles Back and has become the farm's most identifiable symbol and aspect of their brand.[1] Fairview has 750 Saanen goats on their farm, the milk from which is used to produce a range of cheeses under the farm's label. A select group of these goats have the privilege of living in the tower.

[edit] Other goat towers

Norway - In 2006 a farmer from Ekeby in Norway approached Fairview owner Charles Back requesting permission to build a replica of Fairview's tower on his farm in Scandinavia. The Paarl tower was measured and photographed and the replica tower was completed in 2007, with Charles Back travelling to Norway to officially open the tower.[2]
United States - Illinois farmer Dave Johnson built his 31 foot tall goat tower in Shelbyville county after seeing an article on Fairview in the magazine Wine Spectator. [3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fairview official website http://www.fairview.co.za
  2. ^ "Fairview links with Norway goat farm". Paarl Post online.(October 2007). Retrieved on 20 May 2008.
  3. ^ "A 'butt-er' class of goatshed". Retrieved on 12 May 2008.