The Story of Leeuwenhof
Leeuwenhof Estate, located in Gardens, Cape Town, is a historic property dating back to the early years of European settlement at the Cape. It is the official residence of the Premier of the Western Cape and was declared a national heritage site in 1966.
The estate's history began in 1693 when Governor Simon van der Stel granted 12 hectares of land near Table Mountain to Guillaume Heems. Soon after, it was sold to Henrik Bernard Oldenland, the Dutch East India Company’s botanist and surveyor. Following Oldenland’s death, his widow sold the property to Joan Blesius, who is believed to have constructed the first house on the land.
In 1764, Johan Bräsler, a Dane from Copenhagen, purchased the farm. Between 1764 and 1788, he built the current mansion, planted native trees, and cultivated fruits and vegetables. From 1799 to 1836, Capt. Johannes Zorn expanded the estate significantly, adding adjacent land until the property covered 79 hectares.
By the mid-19th century, urban development began to encroach on Leeuwenhof. The estate became a prominent home for political figures. Sir Christoffel Brand, the first Speaker of the Cape Parliament, owned it from 1841 to 1847. Later, Petrus Johannes Kotzé, a former Mayor of Cape Town, acquired the estate in 1847. During this time, the estate began to lose some of its land, including its water fountain, which was expropriated by the City of Cape Town.
In 1881, Sammy Marks and Isaac Lewis purchased the property. Lewis, a mining magnate, became the sole owner and renovated the house with antique furniture. The property, now reduced to 2 hectares, remained in private hands until 1936, when the Cape Province Administration acquired it to serve as the official residence of the Administrator of the Cape Province.
Leeuwenhof is reputed to be haunted by two ghosts. One is said to be an older woman who turns lights on and off, while the other is a young woman believed to have died of heartbreak after her family disapproved of her romantic relationship.
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