Gardens, Cape Town

Gardens

View of The Gardens area

Street map of Gardens
Gardens

 Gardens shown within Western Cape

Coordinates: 33°56′0″S 18°24′30″E / 33.93333°S 18.40833°E / -33.93333; 18.40833Coordinates: 33°56′0″S 18°24′30″E / 33.93333°S 18.40833°E / -33.93333; 18.40833
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
Municipality City of Cape Town
Main Place Cape Town
Government
  Councillor Vivienne Walker (DA)
Area[1]
  Total 1.90 km2 (0.73 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 7,960
  Density 4,200/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
  Black African 23.5%
  Coloured 7.2%
  Indian/Asian 2.0%
  White 64.8%
  Other 2.5%
First languages (2011)[1]
  English 60.4%
  Afrikaans 25.3%
  Xhosa 3.6%
  Other 10.8%
Postal code (street) 8001

Gardens (or The 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.

History

In the early years, the Cape was used as an anchorage for Portuguese, Dutch and British ships. 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, also known as 'The Gardens', 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.

Places of interest

Also within the Gardens area can be found the Iziko South African Museum, The Planetarium, the Iziko National Gallery and the Michaelis School of Fine Art.

Education

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sub Place Gardens". Census 2011.
  2. http://www.jvrprim.co.za
  3. http://www.janvanriebeeck.co.za/
  4. "CONTACT." Cape Town French School. Retrieved on 22 January 2015. "Lycée Français du Cap 101, Hope Street - Gardens 8001 Cape Town South Africa" and "Ecole Française du Cap Corner Tramway and Kings road - Sea Point 8005 Cape Town South Africa"
  5. http://www.stcyprians.co.za/
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