Rondebosch (A 16)

Name: Rondebosch

It is recorded that Jan van Riebeeck, "father" of South Africa, found the first extensive forest "behind Table Mountain", in the areas now known as Rondebosch & Newlands, and extended to beyond the present-day Kirstenbosch.

HOW RONDEBOSCH GOT ITS NAME
In about1657 Rondebosch was called Ronde Bosjen because there
was clumps of round bushes in the area. Later it was changed to‘t
Rondeboschje” and finally, in the last century, it was given the name
Rondebosch.
PLACES OF INTEREST IN RONDEBOSCH
1. RONDEBOSCH FOUNTAIN
(www.rondebosch.net/static/fountain.htm)
Contrary to its name, the Fountain is actually a
Victorian lamppost surrounded by a drinking fountain
for horses and bowls for dogs. The lamp above the
fountain apparently contained the first electric street
light
It was in this area, on 1 March, 1657 that Jan van Riebeeck granted
land to 9 “Free Burghers” to farm land. The fountain was
proclaimed a national monument on 10 April 1964.
2. ST PAUL’S CHURCH (www.stpaulsrondebosch.co.za)
On 5 September 1832, the ground on
which St Paul’s church stands today was
blessed by the Bishop of Calcutta so that
the people of Rondebosch could have an
Anglican church. The church is built on a
rock-based terrace and it looks down on
the Liesbeek River.
The graveyard is one of the oldest in South Africa – the last burials
taking place in the late 1890’s. Details on the gravestones have been
recorded and the facts are available to the public.
St Paul’s from Main Road
(1891)
St Paul’s from Main Road
(2008)
3. MOSTERT’S MILL
(www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/1722/Sout
hAfricanAlbum/Album8.html)
Mostert’s Mill was built in 1796 in order to grind the
Free Burghers’ wheat. It was named after Sybrand
Jacobus Mostert who bought the property on the
death of his father-in-law, Jacob van Renen. The Mill is open to the
public most Saturdays when volunteer millers operate it.
4. RONDEBOSCH COMMON
(www.turtlesa.com/ezine60a.html)
This is a very old piece of
land. Maps dating back to
1807 show it was a place
where soldiers used to
camp, hence the name
Campground Road. It was,
however, often cold and
damp so many soldiers became sick and died.
In 1855, the rector of St Paul’s church was given permission to graze
his cows on the land. There was, however, a rule that the land had to
remain open for public use. Over the years, however, bits of the
original common have been lopped off and used for other purposes.
The Red Cross Children’s Hospital was built on Common Land.
In 1961, the Common was proclaimed a National Monument and
remains so to this day. This 100 acre piece of open ground is home to
200 indigenous plant species.
5. RHODES MEMORIAL
(www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/rhodes-memorial.htm)
Rhodes Memorial was built in remembrance of
Cecil John Rhodes who gave much land to the
people of South Africa. Built on the site where
Rhodes liked to sit and think about his future,
the memorial was designed by Sir Francis
Macey and Sir Herbert Baker. Rhodes memorial
was built with money raised by the citizens of Cape Town. Forty nine
steps, one for each year of Rhodes’ life, are linked with granite walls.
On these walls statues of eight lions look out over Cape Town.

http://prep.bishops.org.za/gr4/social%20science/history%20of%20Rondebosch.pdf

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