Historical Miller & Distiller Franschoek, ZA

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.