History
200 AD – 1500 AD Amerindian Settlements
Almost 2,000 years ago the Igneri (commonly known as Arawak) from Central America settled in St Lucia. The nomadic and war faring Kalinago (Caribs) conquered the island around 1,000 AD. In the 1660′s, the remaining Caribs on St Lucia surrendered to the French, leaving behind only traces of their presence in St. Lucia. Carved rock basins and petroglyphs are found along the Balenbouche river. Other attractions on the plantation include our collection of artifacts such as stone hatchets, tools and beautiful pottery.
Early European Settlements
Balenbouche Estate was established as a caribbean sugar plantation by the Europeans as early as the 1740′s. St Lucia’s first road (the Chemin Royal) traversed the Estate. The earliest known family name associated with this St Lucia plantation is “Martin” in 1770. Between 1840 and 1860 the Estate was owned by the Gaillard de Laubenque family. The present Plantation house (180 yrs old), elaborate landscaping, aqueduct and the ruins of an 18th century sugar mill as well as several artifacts remain a prominent feature of the plantation.
African settlements
African slaves were brought to St. Lucia around 17xx. Remains of African cook wares have been found on the estate, as well as documentation of the number, origin and occupation of African slaves. When emancipation was enacted in 1834, 166 slaves worked on the plantation, which was then 587 acres, largely sugar cane fields. The community of Piaye to the East of Balenbouhe was founded by freed slaves and retains a strong African identity.
East Indian settlements
In the late 1800′s, indentured labor from East India was brought in to work on the St. Lucia sugar plantations. Just over 1,600 people arrived in St. Lucia between 1856 and 1865 and another 4,427 Indians between 1878 and 1893. Typically, the laborers were bound to work for five years in return for a wage, housing, clothing, food and medical care. Then, they could choose between owning ten acres of land or ten pounds sterling or they could, after a further five or ten years of ‘industrial residence’, get a free passage back to India.
About half of all indentured labourers went back to India after finishing their contracts. Dozens, perhaps hundreds more would have liked to return, but became economic hostages after the Immigration Fund ran dry, leaving no money for return passages. By the turn of the century, St. Lucia had a free East Indian population of 2,560 persons in a total population of 42,220 souls. Many of the East Indians who previously worked on the Balenbouche plantation settled in the community of Balca to the North of the Estate.
Lawaetz Family
1964 – 1983, Erik and Jennie Lawaetz
Mr. Erik Lawaetz, a Danish-West Indian developer from St. Croix, purchased Balenbouche Estate in 1964 from the Floissac family, and began diversifying the traditional crops. Jennie Lawaetz refurbished the Plantation House with antiques. However, the islands infrastructure and marketing was geared towards banana export, and there was political tension after independence in 1979. The family was accused of being foreign speculators, and in their periodic absence, the St. Lucia properties were mismanagement and exploited.
1984 – 1989, Roy and Uta Lawaetz
In 1984, Mr. Lawaetz’s daughter-in-law, Uta Lawaetz visited Balenbouche Estate while the family was away, and realized that the property was in critical financial and legal condition. Her husband, Caribbean artist Roy Lawaetz, and Uta, an architect and interior designer from Germany, decided to stay and face the many challenges, including the forced acquisition of most of the family land by the government in the late 1980′s. Yet they persevered, and were able to save the Balenbouche plantation house and surrounding acreage. They began repairing and renovating the old buildings and establishing new crops, such as Carambolas, passion fruit, ginger lilies, vegetables and tobacco.
1990 – 1999, Uta Lawaetz
Roy and Uta Lawaetz separated; Roy returned to his art career, whilst Uta remained at Balenbouche with their two daughters. Uta was well suited for the challenge, and knew that only a strong presence and commitment would enable the family to hold on to Balenbouche. She converted former staff quarters into guest cottages and gradually the plantation was able to support itself through a mixture of farming, bed and breakfast accommodations, tours, meals, weddings and other special events. Today, Balenbouche is one of Saint Lucia’s main attractions.
2000 – Today, Uta, Verena & Anitanja Lawaetz
Roy and Uta ‘s two daughters; Verena, born in Copenhagen in 1977, and Anitanja, born in St Lucia in 1984, grew up at Balenbouche and were home schooled for many years. Today, Uta, Verena and Anitanja live and work at Balenbouche Estate, which has become an internationally acclaimed guesthouse, eco retreat destination and heritage attraction. For the three women, the ongoing beautification and development of the property has become a life’s work.
