STEENBERG

Steenberg, once known as 'Zwaaneweide' or 'Zwaanswyk', was the first land grant made in the Constantia Valley in 1682. The land originally went to a young widow, Catherine Ras, and wines were first produced here in 1695. Today, some 300 years later, the historic 'werf' (original homestead) has been painstakingly restored in the style of an 18th century farm. The farmsteads, including the manor house and other buildings, have been declared a national monument. The main gable, a 'holbol' (convex-concave) outlined by heavy moldings in a small keystone, is the only surviving example of its type in the Cape Peninsula . This prime wine estate has now been developed to include an exquisite country hotel, an 18-hole championship golf course and a residential development.

Original name: "Swaaneweide";

Original owner: Catharina Ustings (Ras, Michelse);

History:

1682: homestead built;

1688: legal title deed - "Zwaanswyk" granted to Ustings;

1695: sold to Russouw, Frederic;

1711: portion Harmanskraal or Baasharmanskraal granted to Oortmans, N. - sold to Russouw, F. - added to original farm;

1717: Raapekraal granted to Russouw, F. - added to original farm;

1740: present house built;

1765: "Swaanswyk" relinquished to Russouw, Nicolas;

1802: sold to Russouw, Daniel - alterations done including second rethatching;

1842: sold to Louw, Jan, Adriaan and Olthoff, Frederik Anthon;

Late 1800's: probable date of building of jonkershuis;

1937: house built by Frederik Russouw demolished and new outbuilding erected on its site;

1976: inherited by: Louw, Andrew, Jean and Nicolette.

Notes:

* U-shaped homestead;

* the front holbol gable is without surface decorations - dated on style to be from c.1765; it is the only holbol gable surviving in the peninsula;

* the T-shaped wine cellar behind the jonkershuis is probably older than 50 years but not as old as the turn of the century;

* the bell tower is a modern construction;

* the homestead was a declared National Monument and is now a Provincial Heritage Site.