The Valley of the Vines
"I learned to ride at Miss Hely-Hutchinson's in Doordrift Road 45 years ago. Constantia had two tarred roads – the main road to Hout Bay and Spanschemat River Road. It was truly rural. Tokai still had farmland to the south of Tokai Road and smallholdings and small farms on the northern side."
The Blue Route Freeway was completed in the mid-70s; Blue Route Mall followed and then Constantia Village mall in 1984. Constantia Valley's population grew from a few thousand to 31 917¹ in 40 years.
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Alphen Hotel |
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How did Constantia fare in the face of urbanisation? Families like the Cloete's safeguarded their heritage at Alphen while the Jooste's and Maack's saved run-down farms – today Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting are gems that the public can enjoy. They were followed by corporate interest and Steenberg took on new meaning as one of SA's finest golf estates as well as Steenberg Hotel and Winery.
The three riding schools have long gone and the closest are now in Kommetjie and Noordhoek. High property values mean that only the well-heeled (or really passionate) stable horses, while rides have diminished as properties have been fenced. Constantia's unique character has been largely preserved by a system of green belts though. Tokai Forest remains another area still accessible to riders (not to mention a favourite among dog walkers and many others seeking shade on hot days) but the character of that is likely to change too.
Now that Tokai Forest is part of Table Mountain National Park, the policy is to remove alien vegetation (such as forest pines) and restore it to Fynbos. This process is the subject of public participation.
Wine estates are under threat and further subdivision of Steenberg Wine Estate was considered before being purchased by Graham Beck, under who's custodianship greater things may be expected. With a price rumoured to be R120 million for the wine estate and hotel, this is a decision based on passion for wine and heritage. Tourism benefits too! (Beck is also known for his passion for horses: he could be the best thing to happen to Constantia for many years!) Fifty percent of the Constantia Uitsig Estate's holding company was also sold recently to Tokyo Sexwale's growing empire.
The Constantia estates are a national treasure but their biggest challenge yet comes from the City of Cape Town. Its new municipal rating system levies rates based on property values... and these national treasures are priceless!
Visit and enjoy Constantia now!
Click here for more information on attractions and businesses in the area.
¹ Census 2001: includes Kirstenbosch, Bishopscourt, Constantia, Tokai, Steenberg, Pollsmoor & Westlake
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