De Doornkraal

An Historic Overview

The original owner of the farm Doornkraal was Hermanus Egbertus Steyn, a great-grandson of master builder Douwe Gerbrandt Steyn who in 1668 arrived from Leeuwarden in Friesland to build the Goedehoop Castle (Castle of Good Hope), today one of Cape Town’s main tourist attractions. He is the great-great grandfather of the current owner of the De Doornkraal Estate and De Doornkraal Historic Country House, professor Pieter Gerbrandt Steyn.

The farm Doornkraal was proclaimed a loan farm in 1746, the same year as another historic Riversdale farm Zeekoegat, declared a National Monument. Hermanus Egbertus Steyn, born in 1773 on the farm Grootvadersbosch between Swellendam and Heidelberg, was the brother of Douw Steyn later of the farm Cloetenburg in the Stellenbosch district, on which the village of Somerset West was established. In 1838 the Steyn family sold a portion of the farm Doornkraal to the “Godsdienstige Gesticht” to establish Riversdale. The thatched homestead located at Langstraat 8 was built between 1746 and 1770, and is the original homestead of the farm Doornkraal. This beautifully restored homestead is today the main dwelling of the De Doornkraal Historic Country House.

Riversdale was named after Civil Commisioner Sir Harry Rivers and proclaimed a town on 30 August 1838 with Long Street (Langstraat) as the focal point. The first “Lots” stretched all the way from the current Van Riebeeck Street to the Vette river on the eastern boundary. The “Lots” were bisected by a long unproclaimed road running parallel to the Vette river, stretching all the way to where the golf course is today. Hence the name “Langstraat” (which means "long street"), that was the access road to Riversdale from the south-east in the vicinity of the current golf course. The remains of the old “wa-brug” (wagon bridge) built in the 1800’s are still evident where the Vette and Goukou rivers meet.

Early History

The first expedition to the Riversdale region was led by Hieronymous Crüse in 1667 to barter for cattle. During the next expedition twenty years later, expedition leader Izak Schryver befriended Goukou, the leader of the Hessequa, after which many barter expeditions followed. By the year 1772, five cattle posts had been established in the area then known as Overberg, and farmers had started to settle here, leasing farms from the VOC (Verenigtde Oost-Indiesche Companje). These included farms such as Plattekloof, Assegaaibosch, Welgevonden, Hollebak, Doornkraal and Zeekoegat (now a historical monument).

As the population increased a need arose for a church, and the farm Doornkraal was bought to establish the first church farm. The church authorities approached Sir Harry Rivers, Civil Commissioner of Swellendam, for his permission to name the town after him. They suggested the name Riversville, but he argued that the name Riversdale would be better suited.

On 30th August 1838, Riversdale was officially proclaimed a town. The congregation was founded in 1839, and the Reverend J C le Fabre Moorrees appointed as the first minister. On 9th March 1848 Sir Harry Smith proclaimed Riversdale a magistracy and a Major Barnes was appointed the first magistrate. On 6th June 1849 Riversdale was declared a Municipality and three commissioners were appointed. Again the Doornkraal Steyns featured prominantly, this time in the governance of the the town when Jacobus J Steyn, son of Hermanus Egbertus Steyn and Great-grandfather of the current owner of De doornkraal Estate, was appointed one of the commissioners.

Progress Through The Years

As the inhabitants were mainly farmers, the development of the town was slow and the 1857 census indicated only 760 inhabitants, 120 dwellings and 18 huts. Today, Riversdale has a population of over 6000 people.

In June 1882, tenders were invited for special iron pipes to install a water reticulation system.  The pipes arrived in Mossel Bay during 1883 and became a logistical challenge, taking 56 ox wagon loads to deliver it to Riversdale.  The water riticulation system was inaugurated on 1st July, 1884. On 3rd December 1884 the first locomotive of the NCCR steamed into the Riversdale station with Tom Wolhuter at the controls. 

The Agricultural Society, founded in 1858, used the wool store granted to them by the church as their venue for shows. Later the wool store was converted to a town hall.  During 1925, Riversdale received its first DC electrical power system, which was replaced in 1958 by an AC powerstation. The project manager for the 1958 conversion to AC power  was Carel (Callie) Steyn, father of the current owner of De Doornkraal Estate. The first hospital was built in 1922, but was since replaced by a modern Provincial Hospital.  The town library was founded in 1869 and was taken over by the Provincial Authorities in 1960.

Heritage Architecture of Langstraat (Long Street)