Mowbray, Cape Town

Mowbray

Mostert's Mill, February 2008

Street map of Mowbray
Mowbray

 Mowbray shown within Western Cape

Coordinates: 33°56′46″S 18°28′34″E / 33.94611°S 18.47611°E / -33.94611; 18.47611Coordinates: 33°56′46″S 18°28′34″E / 33.94611°S 18.47611°E / -33.94611; 18.47611
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
Municipality City of Cape Town
Area[1]
 • Total 2.76 km2 (1.07 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 4,726
 • Density 1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 44.2%
 • Coloured 11.3%
 • Indian/Asian 4.0%
 • White 36.1%
 • Other 4.3%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • English 68.0%
 • Afrikaans 8.0%
 • Xhosa 7.4%
 • Zulu 2.1%
 • Other 14.5%
Postal code (street) 7700
PO box 7705

Mowbray is one of the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa and lies on the slopes of Devil's Peak. Mowbray is at a junction of several major Cape Town highways and has an important multi-modal public transport interchange at Mowbray railway station. Its original name was Driekoppen ("Three heads" in Dutch).

Geography

Mowbray is bounded on the west by the M3 freeway, beyond which lies Devil's Peak, and on the north by the N2 freeway, beyond which lies the suburb of Observatory. Towards the east, the built-up area of Mowbray ends at the M5 freeway, beyond which lies the Black River and the suburb of Pinelands; however, the official boundaries of Mowbray also include the Rondebosch and Mowbray golf courses, which lie beyond the M5, towards Sybrand Park and Pinelands respectively. On the south, Mowbray borders on the suburb of Rosebank with a less well-defined boundary.

The Liesbeeck River flows from south to north through Mowbray, and separates the suburb into two distinct sections. The western section lies on the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, and contains most of the commercial development in the suburb. The eastern section, known as "Little Mowbray", lies on the low hill between the Liesbeeck and Black Rivers.

The well-known Quaker Peace Centre has its offices in Mowbray.

Transport

Mowbray is well-connected to the road network, being bounded (as described above) by the M3, M5 and N2 freeways. Apart from the freeways, the main roads in the suburb are Main Road (M4) and Liesbeeck Parkway (M57), which run north-south; Victoria Road/St. Peter's Road/Durban Road/Klipfontein Road (M18) which runs west-east; and Raapenberg Road (M52) which runs to the north-east towards Pinelands.

For public transport, Mowbray is served by a station on the Metrorail Southern Suburbs railway line. Next to the station is a large Golden Arrow bus station with routes running out all over Cape Town, and a minibus taxi rank.

Landmarks

State-funded Mowbray Maternity Hospital, the only of its kind in Cape Town, is located on Hornsey Road near Mowbray railway station.[2] Mowbray Maternity Hospital is a referral hospital and provides comprehensive specialised maternity services spanning the three main stages of childbirth; Antenatal care, labour and delivery, and postnatal care.[3]

Rhodes Memorial, built in memory of Cecil John Rhodes, lies on the slopes of Devil's Peak west of Mowbray near the M3 Highway. A national landmark, Rhodes Memorial lies within the Table Mountain National Park and was built with granite from the rock bases on which the mountain rests.[4] The memorial site offers panoramic day time and night time views of the Cape Peninsula and Cape Town and is popular amongst tourists and locals.

The Mowbray Golf Course, adjacent to the N2 Highway, was established in 1910 and is recognised for being amongst the best in South Africa. It is an 18-hole golf course with a combination of links and parklands. The course has hosted the South African Open several times.[5]

Windmill

Main article: Mostert's Mill

The only complete windmill in South Africa is Mostert's Mill. It was built in 1796 and worked until the 1860s. It was restored in 1935 and again in 1995 and is open to the public one Saturday a month.

City Hall and Public Library (old postcard)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sub Place Mowbray". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ Western Cape Government, Department of Health. "Health Facilities". Health. Western Cape Government. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  3. ↑ Department of Health, Mowbray Maternity Hospital. "About". Bay Moon Communications. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  4. ↑ Attractions, Cape Town. "Rhodes Memorial, Cape Town". SA Venues. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  5. ↑ Attractions, Cape Town. "Mowbray Golf Course". SA Venues. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
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