LOCATION: Boschendal Estate, Groot Drakenstein
LEADER: Sarah Winter
Continuity and change.
Boschendal werf is one of the most iconic werfs within the Cape Winelands. It was one of the farms consolidated into Rhodes Fruit Farms in 1897. In 1969 Anglo American purchased RFF to become Amfarms for the next 31 years. In 1976 the homestead, outbuildings and gardens were restored to their 19th century appearance under the supervision of Gabriel and Gwen Fagan. Boschendal werf was declared a national monument in 1979. In the late 1970s it was established as a museum and tourism facility, one of the first establishments of its kind in the Cape Winelands. The wine cellar was adapted for use a restaurant. In 2003 a consortium of investors (Boschendal Ltd) purchased the Boschendal farms.
The walkabout will highlight some of the conservation principles of the 1970s restoration. It will also focus on the conservation principles used to guide the recent upgrading of tourism facilities including restaurant facilities, the new function venue and adaptive reuse of cottages for overnight accommodation. Recent landscaping interventions within and around the werf will also be explored.
Situated to the north of the Boschendal werf at the intersection of the R45 and the R310 is the old Rhodes Fruit Farms factory precinct. There are proposals to develop a village node on this site. The walkabout will view the site from the werf, discuss the proposals in general and point out key heritage issues.
Biographical sketch of Sarah Winter
Sarah Winter has a background in archaeology and town planning. As a heritage planner she has worked extensively in the Cape Winelands over the last 20 years and has a specific interest in cultural landscape assessment. She has been a consultant on various projects at Boschendal since 2005.