Historic Cape Dutch Durbanville Estate comes on the market at R16,5 million
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Historic Cape Dutch Durbanville Estate comes on the market at R16,5 million
Rowan Alexander, Director of Alexander Swart Property made a promise last year, that in 2019 the independent estate agency would surprise many with the variety and range of the mandates it would take on in 2019. Fulfilling this promise, he announced this week that AS Property has been appointed to sell Evertsdal Opstal, one of the first properties to be sold by the Dutch East India Company in the Durbanville area (in 1680).
The property was bought by one Abraham Evert, brought to the Cape as a slave from West Guinea. It was then purchased by the Governor, Jan van Riebeeck himself, who later set Evert free and gave him the right as a Free Burgher, to farm on his own account. Evert acquired the farm, which was the standard size of 60 morgen, on the loan hold system. He built a fortified building with koffieklip and clay, the remains of which can still be seen today. The purpose of the fort was to protect a fountain, which at the time was believed to be the source of the Kuils River.
Loan farms at that time were tradable and in 1699 Evert sold his property to Hendrik Eksteen, who built the first homestead and other buildings on the property before selling it in 1724. Eksteen's homestead had a typical Cape Dutch H-shaped layout and front gable, but it was later partially burnt down. The new owner built a gable of his own design, in the approved style of that time, with curved plaster moldings and a small crown at the apex. The voorkamer of the house was tiled with very large Batavian tiles brought from the East as ballast, in a Dutch East India Company ship. These were discovered later, buried in the grounds of the property and renovated for reuse. The fort building was converted into a wine cellar. An old well, built to collect the spring water, was rediscovered inside the building along with underground tunnels and storerooms.
In recent years, the front half of the property was rezoned for general business (GB2) and the upgraded fort building operated as a restaurant under four owners, originally called Die Kelder. At one stage it was run as an Italian restaurant under the name La Masseria and in recent years operated as Evertsdal Opstal, one of the best known Durbanville hospitality venues. The kitchen is fully equipped and ready to serve a large number of guests at any stage and there is parking for 55 cars.
Tanya de Wet, the Alexander Swart Property agent handling the sale, reports that the property covers 8,083 m2 and the main house has 610 m2 floor area (including four bedrooms). The upgraded fort building has a floor area of 470 m2. Both main buildings have fireplaces and the chief homestead was recently re-thatched.
Rowan Alexander says, that Tanya de Wet is looking for a buyer who values and appreciates the Cape Dutch architectural heritage and will, like most of Evertsdal's previous owners, maintain the historic buildings in line with the Cape Heritage buildings. As the property has already proved itself to be highly suitable for a restaurant and/or coffee shop, as well as host major functions, it would be 'fitting' if the new owner is again a restaurateur and possibly also willing to run a boutique hotel in the main homestead.
The list price for the property is R16,5 million exclusive of value added tax.
For further information contact Tanya de Wet on cell phone number 082 853 2815 or by email tanyad@asproperty.co.za
Author: Independent Author
