Plumstead, Cape Town

Plumstead
Coordinates: 34°1′20″S18°28′20″E / 34.02222°S 18.47222°E / -34.02222; 18.47222
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
Municipality	City of Cape Town
Main Place	Cape Town
Area [1]
• Total	4.58 km2 (1.77 sq mi)
Population  (2011) [1]
• Total	20,178
• Density	4,400/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
•  Black African	10.4%
•  Coloured	28.8%
•  Indian/Asian	2.5%
•  White	54.5%
• Other	3.8%
First languages (2011) [1]
•  English	83.2%
•  Afrikaans	10.4%
•  Xhosa	1.3%
• Other	5.1%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	7800
PO box	7801
Area code	021

Plumstead is a suburb situated in the Southern Suburbs region of the city of Cape Town, in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

History

Plumstead was first mentioned when, in 1762, a large portion of the land beyond Wynberg and the Constantia Valley was granted to the free burghers Hendrick Jergens and Johan Barrens, who were Dutch settlers. They called the land 'Rust' (Rest) and 'Werk' (Work).^{[ citation needed ]}

Twenty years later the land was granted to Hendrick Bouman Brigeraad.^{[ citation needed ]} After the decline of the Dutch East India Company, the British occupied the Cape.

An Englishman, Henry Batt, arrived in 1807 and bought 'Rust and Werk' and renamed it Plumstead, after a district of London. He farmed the area for twenty six years, and died in 1833. The farm Plumstead was sub-divided and bought by Messrs. Higgs, Loubscher and Southey. Today, Plumstead consists of a mix of houses built in the 1940s and 1950s and more modern residences.^{[ citation needed ] [2]}

Geography

The suburb is bordered to the east by the M5 expressway and to the west by the suburb of Constantia. The fairly large suburb of Plumstead, just south of Wynberg, divided into two by the Main Road and the railway line, could easily be mistaken for the English village after which it is named. Regarded as the ‘Cinderella' of Wynberg and Diep River, Plumstead is filled with homes built during the 1940s and 1950s.

There are several recreation areas within the Plumstead Suburb, including Lympleigh Road Park, Waterford Park, Burnham Road Park, Churchill Road Park, Sovereign Road Park, Wicklow Road Park, Smith Road Park and Dan Pienaar Park. ^[3]

Education

The suburb contains a number of educational institutions.

Schools

• John Graham Primary School
• Timour Hall Primary School
• Plumstead Preparatory School
• Plumstead High School
• South Peninsula High School
• Norman Henshilwood High School

Tertiary institutions

• Cape Town College of Fashion Design

There are also multiple preschools located in the suburb.

Culture

Plumstead is home to the Plumstead Public Library. ^[4] Plumstead Public

Governance

Plumstead is divided between wards 62, 63 and 73 of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality. The ward councillors are Eddie Andrews, Emile Langenhoven and Carmen Siebritz, respectively, all members of the Democratic Alliance. ^[5] The area hosts a City of Cape Town Municipal Office and walk-in Motor Vehicle Registration Center, on the corner of Victoria and Main Roads. ^{[6] [7]}

References

1. "Sub Place Plumstead". Census 2011.
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380487697_A_brief_history_of_Plumstead
3. https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/see-all-city-facilities/our-recreational-facilities/Outdoor%20gyms/Dan-Pienaar-Circle-Park-Outdoor-Gym
4. https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/see-all-city-facilities/our-service-facilities/Libraries/plumstead-public-library
5. "Plumstead Councillors". Councillors Online. City of Cape Town. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
6. "Plumstead Walk-in Centre". The City of Cape Town. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
7. "Plumstead Motor Vehicle Registering Authority". The Western Cape Government. Retrieved 22 November 2024.

• Constantiaberg Bulletin, 25 August 2005; Pg 5.