Cape Farm 1010, Wolwerivier
Basic Heritage Background information
Prepared for
City of Cape Town, Housing Department
November 2010
City of Cape Town,
Environmental and Heritage Resources Management Branch
Milpark
Application
The site is approximately 2,66ha in extant and the application is for the development
of a Temporary Relocation Area by the Housing Directorate of the City of Cape
Town.
Property Description and Location
The study area lies on a portion of Cape Farm 1010, Wolwerivier which is owned by
the City of Cape Town. The site is located west of the N7 adjacent to the old Mamre
road (R304) on the historic Bluegum tree avenue.
Heritage Status
The proposed development triggers Section 38 of the National Heritage Resources
Act (no 25 of 1999) which states that: any development or other activity which will
change the character of a site (i) exceeding 5000m2.’
Historical Background
The farm is on a portion of the original farm Lot C which was historically reserved for
the Forest Department according to the 1901 Cape Divisional Map. The farm is
flanked by historical farms Keert de Koe and Blaauwberg farm which both have
significant heritage value. Blaauwberg farm is listed as belonging to Helena Culix in
1730 and many core buildings still survive. Keert de Koe belonged to Petrus De Witt
in 1767 and there is surviving historic fabric on the farm werf.1 According to the Built
Environment Conservation Study conducted by Rennie Scurr Architects, a
comparison between the historic ‘Cape Division’ map and a present-day 1:50000
map show that the cadastral boundaries of many of the current farms in District B
have remained relatively unchanged since the late 1700s. This demarcation in fact
has its origins in the veldcornet system of the Dutch period.
Old Mamre Road, lined with mature
Bluegum trees on either side of the road
Rennie and Scurr (2001: 93)
Portion of 1901 Map of Cape division (courtesy City of Cape Town)
Heritage Significance
There are some structures and buildings on the site. Many of the buildings are older
than 60 years, however apart from a small workers cottage, the remainder of the
buildings are not considered to have any visible heritage significance in terms of their
architecture. The buildings mostly constitute ruins of old reservoirs and some
residential cottages.
It is noted that all of the above structures are at some distance from the proposed
temporary relocation area and will not be altered or demolished.
The property is located on a designated scenic route (R304) and the Bluegum tree
on the periphery of the site is of cultural interest.
Photo 1& 2: Ruins of reservoirs on site to remain.
Photo 3: Ruin older than 60 years.
Photo 4: Workers cottage on the property
(fabric assumed older than 60years)
Photo 5: View of the site from the road
Photo 6: View of the Bluegum tree lane
from the site looking North East
Recommendations:
•
Retain the Bluegum tree avenue
•
Visual impacts on the tree lane are to be mitigated. It is recommended that
any development on the site is set back from the Bluegum Avenue and that
any proposed boundary fencing is sensitive to the surrounding context.
Vibracrete walls are not supported.
•
If any paleontological or archaeological materials are exposed they must be
dealt with in accordance with the National Heritage Resources Act (No. 25 of
1999).
•
Should any burials be exposed during earthmoving activities it should be
noted that human remains are protected by law and must be reported to the
South African Heritage Resources (SAHRA).
Reference
Rennie and Scurr. 2001. The built Environment Conservation Study for Blaauwberg
Municipality.