Gardens, Cape Town
Encyclopedia
Gardens is an inner-city suburb of Cape Town
located just to the south of the city centre located in the higher elevations of the "City Bowl
". It is located directly beneath Table Mountain
and Lion's Head
. It is an affluent neighbourhood populated mostly by young professionals and contains numerous chic restaurants, hotels, boutique shops and loft apartments. The suburb is also a hub for the Cape Town
creative industry, hosting the home of e.tv
at Longkloof Studios and contains many modeling agencies, production and publishing companies and associated industries. It is also home to the world-famous five-star Mount Nelson Hotel.
No permanent settlement existed until the Dutch East India Company
issued a mandate to Jan van Riebeeck
, a ship's surgeon, to establish a settlement which could provide passing ships with fruit, vegetables and fresh meat (traded from the natives).
In 1652 the first garden was laid out by Hendrik Boom, the Company's master gardener, on a site close to the Fresh River (near to the Grand Parade). Later that year, the garden crossed the Fresh River (where Adderley Street
is today), and included a medicine garden. Within a few years it was 18 hectares in size.
As more produce became available from the Company's gardens at Newlands
and from the Free Burghers who had settled along the Liesbeeck River, the town garden was slowly converted into a botanical and ornamental garden, although the growing of vegetables did continue for a number of years.
The famous kilometer-long Government Avenue, which runs from the top of Adderley Street
, was originally planted with lemon trees and in 1700 with orange trees. During the time of Simon van der Stel
, it was lined with oak trees, which remain today.
The South African Museum, the oldest in the country, was established in 1825.
The small Jewish museum, housed in the original synagogue, known as 'The Gardens Shul
', is the oldest in Southern Africa built in 1862. The twin-towered 'new' synagogue was built in 1905.
At the top end of Government Avenue is Cape Town High School, built on the grounds of which once stood the Hope Mill, one of five water mills which operated along the banks of the Fresh River.
Also within the Gardens area can be found the South African Museum, The Planetarium, the National Art Gallery and the Michaelis School of Fine Art.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
located just to the south of the city centre located in the higher elevations of the "City Bowl
City Bowl
The City Bowl is a part of Cape Town in South Africa. It is a natural amphitheatre-shaped area bordered by Table Bay and defined by the mountains of Signal Hill, Lion's Head, Table Mountain and Devil's Peak....
". It is located directly beneath Table Mountain
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
and Lion's Head
Lion's Head (Cape Town)
Lion's Head is a mountain located in Cape Town, South Africa, between Table Mountain and Signal Hill. Lion's Head peaks at above sea level. The peak forms part of a dramatic backdrop to the city of Cape Town and is part of the Table Mountain National Park....
. It is an affluent neighbourhood populated mostly by young professionals and contains numerous chic restaurants, hotels, boutique shops and loft apartments. The suburb is also a hub for the Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
creative industry, hosting the home of e.tv
E.tv
e.tv is the fifth terrestrial television channel in South Africa, following three channels operated by the state-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation and the privately owned subscription-funded M-Net, operated by Multichoice...
at Longkloof Studios and contains many modeling agencies, production and publishing companies and associated industries. It is also home to the world-famous five-star Mount Nelson Hotel.
History
In the early years, the Cape was used as an anchorage for British, Portuguese and Dutch ships.No permanent settlement existed until the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
issued a mandate to Jan van Riebeeck
Jan van Riebeeck
Johan Anthoniszoon "Jan" van Riebeeck was a Dutch colonial administrator and founder of Cape Town.-Biography:...
, a ship's surgeon, to establish a settlement which could provide passing ships with fruit, vegetables and fresh meat (traded from the natives).
In 1652 the first garden was laid out by Hendrik Boom, the Company's master gardener, on a site close to the Fresh River (near to the Grand Parade). Later that year, the garden crossed the Fresh River (where Adderley Street
Adderley Street
Adderley Street is a famous street in Cape Town, South Africa. It is considered the main street of the central business district of Cape Town...
is today), and included a medicine garden. Within a few years it was 18 hectares in size.
As more produce became available from the Company's gardens at Newlands
Newlands, Cape Town
Newlands is an upmarket suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.It is located at the foot of Table Mountain in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, and is the wettest suburb in South Africa due to its high winter rainfall...
and from the Free Burghers who had settled along the Liesbeeck River, the town garden was slowly converted into a botanical and ornamental garden, although the growing of vegetables did continue for a number of years.
The famous kilometer-long Government Avenue, which runs from the top of Adderley Street
Adderley Street
Adderley Street is a famous street in Cape Town, South Africa. It is considered the main street of the central business district of Cape Town...
, was originally planted with lemon trees and in 1700 with orange trees. During the time of Simon van der Stel
Simon van der Stel
Simon van der Stel was the last Commander and first Governor of the Cape Colony, the Dutch settlement at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.-Background:...
, it was lined with oak trees, which remain today.
Places of interest
The first statue erected in South Africa, that of Sir George Grey can be found in front of the Public Library.The South African Museum, the oldest in the country, was established in 1825.
The small Jewish museum, housed in the original synagogue, known as 'The Gardens Shul
Gardens Shul
The Gardens Shul, formally, the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, founded in 1841, located in the Cape Town Botanical Gardens, in the Gardens neighborhood of Cape Town, is the oldest Jewish congregation in South Africa....
', is the oldest in Southern Africa built in 1862. The twin-towered 'new' synagogue was built in 1905.
At the top end of Government Avenue is Cape Town High School, built on the grounds of which once stood the Hope Mill, one of five water mills which operated along the banks of the Fresh River.
Also within the Gardens area can be found the South African Museum, The Planetarium, the National Art Gallery and the Michaelis School of Fine Art.