OCTOBER TALK
DATE: Tuesday 21st October 2025
TIME: 20:00
VENUE: The Athenaeum, Newlands. At the intersection of Campground Road & Mariendahl Lane, drive through Boundary Terrace office park gates, and at the top, turn left into the dedicated Athenaeum parking area.
SPEAKER: Dr. Stephen Townsend
TOPIC: THE MAKING OF THE BOKAAP
Stephen Townsend will describe the process of the construction of the Bokaap abutting the city centre that has run from 1762 (though the Schotschekloof farmhouse predates that by 50 years) till today, touching on the major events and dynamics affecting the development processes, in particular, the ideas of conservation from the mid-1940s and how those thoughts (and laws) have developed.
He will also touch on his own involvement in these processes since the early-1970s. All of this will be illustrated.
Stephen Townsend
- Lived in various parts of Southern Africa, matriculated at Kimberley Boys’ High (1965); B Arch at University of Cape Town (1977); diploma in conservation studies at the University of Rome (1985); PhD at UCT (2003).
- Worked in the building industry in various capacities since 1967; worked for City of Cape Town for 20 years (in heritage- and in land-use-management); in private practice specialising in planning and conservation matters for 20 years; also worked as CEO of Heritage Western Cape for two years; HWC Council member for three years (chaired its BEL Comm and IA Comm); and currently on panel of MEC’s Appeals Tribunal.
- Member of three professional institutes (of architects, planners, heritage practitioners) plus ICOMOS SA and of APES; and served on the management committees of most of them for shorter or longer periods.
- Established and ran the M Phil in Conservation of the Built Environment at UCT as Adjunct Assoc Prof for ten years (2009-2017); been teaching CPD courses on heritage and the built environment for 20 years.
- Regular contributor to professional and legal journals and books since first publication in 1977.
- Involved in the Bokaap since 1972, co-author of 1977 book, Bokaap: Faces and Facades; designed the community centre in 1979 and a project of 120 infill and reconstructed houses in 1980 for the City (the community centre and about 70 of the houses were built in mid-1980s); often giving advice and assistance to the community.
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OCTOBER OUTING
DATE: Saturday, 25th October 2025
PLACE: Houw Hoek and Bot River
TIME: 9.30am to have a look around – Talk by the owner at 10am
Meet at the entrance to the Elgin Railway Market
This is another attempt at visiting Houw Hoek area. You may remember that our last planned outing was washed out by rain and the remains of a mill we were planning to visit were washed away in a flood.
This time we have added a visit to Beaumont at Bot River where Andy Selfe will be in action at the mill which he restored. We will be going ahead come rain or shine, but we might reconsider if there is another flood.
- We will start at the Elgin Railway Marketwhere the owner, Roger Orpen will give us brief talk on how he transformed an apple packing shed into a thriving market.
Travel time is 1 hour in light traffic and 90 minutes in heavy traffic. Be there by 9.30 to have a look around/get a coffee before our talk at 10am. - Then we travel to Korteshoven, a farm discovered by Alex Dodge, where Charles Jackson will welcome us with many stories. The farm has been in his family since 1839.
- Thereafter a quick visit to Wildekrans.
- Since we have not been able to find a picnic spot we will be having a light lunchat the Houw Hoek Inn (details below). This is the oldest inn in South Africa. The building has changed over the centuries, but we can still enjoy the spot that all early travellers headed for.
- After lunch we travel on to Beaumont (Companjes Drift)to see Andy Selfe milling in the mill he rebuilt – really interesting end to the day. Andy starts closing down around 3pm so we have some time constraints.
LUNCH OPTIONS – choose one
- Ham and cheese open sandwich : Gypsy ham, tomato, grilled cheddar, lettuce and mustard dressing served with a side of chips R110
- Chicken mayo open sandwich: Roast chicken and mayo, avo, lettuce and spring onions served with a side of chips R110
- Apple and Walnut Salad: crisp apples, crunchy walnuts and sweet cranberries, served with homemade balsamic vinaigrette Starter R70, Main R110
- Mediterranean chickpea salad: This wedge salad combines chickpeas, crunchy vegetable toppings and hummus dressing for a delicious deconstructed falafel flavour. Starter R75, Main R120
Decide on hot drinks R40 or cold drinks R30-45 on the day.
NOTE
Notes will be handed out on the day and sent via email beforehand as will the driving directions.
Please let Pat Kramer know if you wish to attend, and state clearly which of the lunch options you would prefer. The restaurant needs to be ready for us when we get there.
Let Pat Kramer know by Tuesday 21st evening. The Inn has to be informed by Wednesday: studio@iafrica.com
Numbers limited to 25 people.
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READ THE LATEST VASSA Newsletter September 2025
or access all newsletters in Publications
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A GENTLE REMINDER / CODE OF CONDUCT
TALKS happen on the third Tuesday of a month, at the Athenaeum in Newlands. All are welcome, free of charge
OUTINGS happen on the last Saturday of a month (usually). Members only
VASSA outings/excursions usually take us onto exclusive properties, and frequently into private homes – which is a privilege deserving respect and courtesy, and our host’s privacy being safeguarded. Hence our Code of Conduct.
GENERAL
Only paid up members may attend outings. (Visitors pay the annual price of membership to attend an outing.)
Strictly no pets ever, or children without prior arrangement.
Always wear your VASSA name badge with the correct colour tag. It’s a courtesy to fellow members as well as a safety measure to hosts who generously allow us into their homes.
ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
On arrival, make sure to sign the register which has a clause that indemnifies VASSA and/or its agents against all injury, loss, damage, costs and/or expenses which you and/or any other person may incur as a result of your participation.
Then, stay close to the leader so that the host can be introduced. Do not wander off before the introduction.
On departure, gather around the leader to thank the host. Do not leave before this.
If you have to leave before the end of the outing, inform the outing leader so that others don’t wait or look for you.
PHOTOGRAPH PROTOCOL
We need to safeguard the privacy of our hosts in this digital age.
Before taking interior photographs, check with the outing leader that this is permitted.
Although we may sometimes be allowed to take interior photos if we have permission from the property owner / occupant, we should use them only for personal or research purposes.
So do not post photographs of any interior on social media – this is deemed a security risk.
And never post images of a location / farm online with either GPS co-ordinates or the name and location / address attached, nor as a caption or other “tag” such as the “check in” option on Facebook.
Some already “public” exterior shots, such as the gateposts or gables, may be used to illustrate posts to social media or to the VASSA Facebook page.
ON THE PROPERTY
Switch off cell phones or put them on ‘silent’.
Do not … Touch anything / Pick up porcelain to check maker’s mark / Take books out of bookcases, etc. / Open closed doors / Sit on the furniture / Use the toilet without asking the host’s permission / Take plant slips from the garden.
Also do not … Engage the host in private conversations while everyone else is milling around / Use the privilege of an outing to organise private business arrangements or return visits with the host / Voice personal comments while on site.
LIMITING NUMBERS
Vassa outings are usually open for all members to attend. However, certain outings may not be able to accommodate a large group of people, in which case numbers are limited to a first come first served basis, and a contact email address is always provided to secure your spot.
If you cannot attend, let the organiser know so that someone else on the waiting list can.
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