rondebosch

Rondebosch's Own

Sponsored by the Chas Everitt International Property Group this website gives you access to the news you need about Rondebosch and the best links to 'things Rondebosch' on the web!

Rondebosch is one of the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. It is bordered by the suburbs of Rosebank, Rondebosch East, Claremont, Newlands, and the slopes of Devil's Peak.

It is primarily a residential suburb, with a medium-size shopping area and a small business district. It is best known for its excellent schools and for the University of Cape Town and as an entertainment centre for the Southern Suburbs.

As one of Cape Town's leading suburbs, Rondebosch offers so much to residents and visitors and we will feature and promote our delightful suburb right here and your input is welcome!

Contact Chas Everitt with your contribution and if you are a local organisation it will be our pleasure to feature your information free on this website!

Chas Everitt are recruiting!

The Chas Everitt real estate group is  expanding their presence in the Southern Suburbs and needs one additional agent for the Rosebank Rondebosch and Mowbray areas Contact Andre de Villiers on 0832300549

 

What's On!

Want to know what's happening in and around Rondebosch?

Rather than duplicate the efforts we would like to promote the use of this excellent community resource,
'What's On' by Cape Talk

A Place of History

 

Four years after the first Dutch settlement at the Cape in 1652, the first experimental crops were grown along the banks of the Liesbeek River (at that stage called the Amstel or Versse Rivier). On the banks of the river, a circular grove of thorn trees, or Ronde Doorn Bosje, was turned into a kraal. In 1657, the first group of Dutch East India Company employees gained "free burgher" (free citizen) status and were granted land along the river in the area now known as Rondebosch.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Rondebosch became a predominantly English-speaking area and was declared a whites-only area under the Group Areas Act. Since the end of Apartheid in the mid-1990s, the area has become increasingly integrated.

Rondebosch was traditionally a liberal constituency opposed to the apartheid government.  It used to be the seat of Sir de Villiers Graaff, the leader of the opposition United Party, and later that of Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, leader of the opposition Progressive Federal Party. Today, it is generally a safe seat for the opposition Democratic Alliance.

On the slopes of Devil's Peak above Rondebosch is the main campus of the University of Cape Town, one of the country's top universities.

The historic Groote Schuur estate in Rondebosch includes presidential and ministerial residences with Cape Dutch origins. The Groote Schuur building is the biggest, rebuilt by Cecil Rhodes according to a design by Herbert Baker after a fire in 1896. The presidential residence, Genadendal (formerly Westbrooke), also dates back to Cape Dutch times.

The centre of Rondebosch is the Main Road, with the Victorian cast iron Rondebosch Fountain being a historic landmark. The area is currently being revitalised as "Rondebosch Village." Historic buildings in the area include the library (formerly the town hall) and St. Paul's Church, which was designed by Charles Michell.

The home of Simon van der Stel (first governor of the Cape Colony) is now part of Rustenburg Junior School. This building dates back to the 17th century, although it has undergone many alterations over the years. Its summer house, dating from 1760, remains as a monument just below the university.

Rondebosch Common, once a military campground, is declared a national monument and is also an important fynbos conservation area.

The Baxter Theatre in Rondebosch is Cape Town's second biggest theatre complex, after the Artscape Theatre Centre in the city centre.