Oranjezicht, Cape Town

Draped over the foothills of Table Mountain, the suburb of Oranjezicht, which is Dutch for `orange view,’ is situated on the site of the original Oranjezicht farm, which once stretched all the way down to The Mount Nelson Hotel. In the early 18th century, the farm supplied fresh produce to the Dutch East India Company, as well as to the troops in the Cape Town Castle. Oranjezicht’s original owner, Pieter Van Breda, was renowned for his musical appreciation, and during the last few years of Dutch government in the Cape, he held regular concerts on the lawns of his estate. It was situated corner upper Orange Street and Belmont Ave. A tent would be erected and a flag flown – the latter, to inform music lovers of the event and to issue an open invitation to attend. The crowds were entertained by an orchestra of 30, mostly flute or violin playing slaves, all smartly clad in uniforms made by Breda. The concerts continued for many years after slavery was abolished. Some of the original farm buildings and an old slave bell are still to be found where the farm once stood while another authentic Van Breda family slave bell, dated 12 September 1775, can be viewed at The South African Museum.

History seekers will also delight in Leeuwenhof, the origins of which can be traced back to the days when Simon van der Stel was Governor. At at the edge of Oranjezicht, on Hof Street, the elegant home is located at the end of an oak-lined avenue, nestled among wild fig trees in the shade of tall pines. Today it is the official residence of the Administrator of the Western Cape.

In Prince Street, you’ll find the old hurling or swaai pump, which has been a national monument since 1937. Its origins date back to 1813. Up until 1800, Cape Town’s water was sourced from public fountains which ran continuously. In order to conserve water, pumps with long wooden handles were employed and water was drawn from wells which were supplied via a wooden pipeline.

The Molteno reservoir is also something of a relic, having been built in 1866. Even so, it is in fact the `newer’ reservoir, since its predecessor, built in 1822, burst its banks. The ensuing tidal wave gushed down into the city, uprooting trees and destroying houses in its path. The Molteno Reservoir is also the site of The City of Cape Town Municipality’s first power station, the Graaff Electric Lighting Works, which was inaugurated in 1895. This heralded the official switching on of the city’s first street lights at the Town House, Greenmarket Square.

Oranjezicht is still home to a gloriously eclectic mix of original Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian houses, with a few Sir Herbert Baker designs peppered into the mix.  Among these are also a collection of ambitious renovations and contemporary homes.  Stands here are large by City Bowl standards; smaller family homes sit on properties measuring on average 800 square metres, while grand old manor houses languish on sites of up to 2000 square metres.  And most have enviable views of Table Mountain, the foreshore and the distant Hottentots Holland Mountains.

The suburb is home to many older, established couples and families, but younger, first-time buyers, or students who rent, are drawn to apartments in the area. And of course prices depend on the location, the view and the amount of off-road parking – the latter comes at a premium in Oranjezicht.

The sought after suburb gets added cachet thanks its proximity to the very ‘now and happening’ Kloof Street, which abounds with trendy cafés, restaurants, clothing boutiques and furniture shops.  Vibey Long street with its clubs, backpacker’s lodges and bohemian allure is a mere five minutes away, as are some of Cape Town’s bastions of culture including The South African  Museum the Planetarium, The Centre For The Book , the Company’s Garden, the Cape Town Holocaust Centre, the South African National Gallery, the Michaelis School of Art  and many more. Gardens Centre is just minutes away and offers a variety of excellent shopping options, and just over the other side of the mountain is the Atlantic seaboard, and some of the finest beaches in the world.

Easy access to contour paths on the slopes of Table Mountain make Oranjezicht a hiker’s delight, while excellent private schools such as Herzlia, St Cyprian’s and Jan Van Riebeeck Junior and High schools and top class hospitals, located nearby, only serve to increase demand and prices for real estate in the suburb where demand generally outstrips supply and once a property comes onto the market it usually gets snapped up.

Once settled in Oranjezicht, people tend to stay a long time and enjoy a warm sense of community.  There’s always a convivial atmosphere at De Waal Park, the neighbourhood gathering spot, where early mornings and late afternoons see thrill levels reaching fever pitch as the resident canine population goes into squirrel alert.

Property for sale in Oranjezicht