At 51 Main Street and on the corner of Hermon Street is the first high-density building in Riebeek Kasteel.
Constructed sometime in the early 1900s, it was named in honour of the famous Wolraad Woltemade; the Cape Dutch dairy farmer who died in 1773 while rescuing sailors off the wreck of the ship De Jonge Thomas in Table Bay.
The building was created as an investment by a local farmer who envisioned it as a weekend house. He would sell/rent the three separate apartments to local farmers in and around the valley who were seeking to spend time closer to the village during weekends for easier access to friends, shopping, and the church.
Known residents of Woltemade during the 1900s include Dienie (Du Preez) Venter and her brother Samuel Du Preez; a teacher based in Cape Town who would stay over on weekends. The Brokenshires, who were unusually English-speaking people, also occupied one of the apartments with their daughter Valery who was regarded as one of the village’s most beautiful women.
Tastefully updated into a residential home, the building now exhibits its original front doors, cast iron fencing, pillars, and archways within the stoep that would’ve acted as separations between the three apartments.
Your Next Destination
Carry on due east on Main Street (this section is also known as Millionaires Lane) for about 150m and turn right onto the gravel road of Bloem Street. Four heritage properties are featured on this street, starting with a couple on the left-hand side.
