The Clarens Heritage Association was founded in 2024 as a volunteer organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Clarens and its surrounding areas for current and future generations. The association works to increase awareness about local heritage conservation challenges, covering both physical structures and cultural traditions. They collaborate with regional and national heritage organisations to develop and execute preservation strategies.
The association has recognised several significant buildings with Blue Plaques. Clarens Primary School’s original sandstone structure was constructed in 1914 at the intersection of Main and Malherbe Streets, designed to house three educators and accommodate 100 students. Frost House was likely constructed shortly after land became available for purchase in 1914, though exact construction dates remain undocumented due to missing municipal records.
The Ou Kliphuis represents a characteristic small sandstone dwelling, probably built around 1927. Located across from the church hall, it functioned as temporary accommodation for rural families visiting town for communion services and worship. The property served as a vacation residence from the 1950s through the 1980s. In 1990, new ownership initiated careful restoration while preserving its original character, including the absence of electrical systems and a prominent coal-burning kitchen stove.
Regarding heritage importance, West Rand Heritage Consultants completed a heritage assessment of Clarens in 2014, following the requirements of the National Heritage Resources Act. The evaluation examined the Ou Kliphuis’s historical, social, cultural, aesthetic, and technical significance, including its distinctiveness, condition, and scholarly value. The structure occupies properties 177 and 178 on Main Street. While not within a designated heritage zone, numerous village buildings exceed 60 years in age and receive protection under the National Heritage Resources Act, given Clarens’s establishment in 1912.