On 15th November 1991 after a long voyage from Europe “The Victoria” sailed triumphantly into Table Bay and dropped anchor at the Victoria and Alfred Dock.
Once the celebrations were over, “The Victoria” was fitted out as a living museum for Capetonians and visitors from all over the world to visit.
Recently whilst browsing through some books on Cape Town’s heritage I came across a picture and short piece which had been published in 1962 in the Caltex booklet on “SA’s Heritage” regarding an incredible cycle ride between PE and CT which took place sometime between the late 1800’s and the early1900’s. (Time restraints prevented me from researching further into the story which was recorded in the CT newspaper’s at the time).
At the time there was an article in the “Tygerburger” about a strenuous ride cyclists had completed up the West Coast and back to Meerendal, Durbanville. I thought this was serendipitous and worth sharing especially because the Durbanville’s cycling fraternity is so well supported.
A dream of the Western Cape Rose Society for the establishment of a Rose Trial Garden was fulfilled when in 1979 the Durbanville Town Council granted them a piece of land which had been donated by the Schabort family from their farm Evertsdal.
Under the leadership of Mr and Mrs Lindner aided by many enthusiastic members and volunteers the garden soon took shape.
Durbanville, the quaint little village with its bluegum trees is celebrating its 180th birthday this year. But even more important is the 190th birthday anniversary of the Dutch Reformed congregation in the town. This article gives an over-view of the history of the establishment of the congregation.
The indigenous population of the Cape, the Khoena, lived in the Cape Peninsula during the hot summer months. They called this place //Hui !Gaeb – the place where clouds concentrated. During the wet and cold winter months they moved to the West Coast, which was warmer and drier (Anon, 2015; Kotze, 2015:27).
The most desirable place of residence was at the foot of Table Mountain, which they named Hoerikwaggo – the mountain in the sea. Here there was enough pasturage and water for their cattle. They named the rivers from which they could drink the Sweet Water Rivers or the Camissa – //am mi ssa. At the mouth of one of these rivers in Table Bay, the Goringhaicona established their headquarters (Anon, 2013).
The Het Gesticht Museum at Number 112, Main Street, Paarl was where a contingent of members and friends of the DHS met tour guide, Hybre Van Niekerk, on 17th October 2015. She shared her passion for everything historical relating to Paarl with us and we were more than a little envious to experience how many of the heritage buildings in the town have been preserved.
On the morning of 1st August 2015, a group of DHS members and their friends met outside the Dutch Reformed Church in Durbanville prior to partaking in a walking tour of historic Durbanville. Mariana Delport was our designated guide for the morning.
Laurence G. Green, wrote a story entitled ‘Swartland and Beyond’, which appears in his book: “In The Land of Afternoon” in which he wrote about the hot sulphur springs in Malmesbury which in the eighteenth century were comparable with the famous spa waters of Aix La Chapelle in Germany.
Anecdotes on life in the Village of Durbanville at the turn of last century are taken from personal accounts written by Mrs M A Sieberhagen.
Interesting reading on wheatfields and windmills.