The picturesque town of Durbanville is situated in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. Durbanville might be more known for the wine route surrounding the town but it has a long history dating back to the early 19th century. The area was originally assigned for farming by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 and by 1719 Durbanville, as it’s known today, consisted of 22 farms.
Originally known as Pampoenkraal, the village served as a watering station for people travelling between Cape Town and interior villages. In 1825, local farmers obtained permission from Lord Charles Somerset to build a church and a year later the Dutch Reformed Church was inaugurated. The village grew and the first name change was petitioned in 1836, when residents requested to name the area D’Urban, in honour of Sir Benjamin d’Urban, Governor of the Cape Colony at the time.
As D’Urban was easily confused with Durban, a port city situated on the east coast, the name was changed again in 1886 to Durbanville. Today, Durbanville is a flourishing suburb and although it offers a myriad of businesses and trendy restaurants, it remains proud of its heritage. Driving down Oxford and Church Streets, you can still spot some of the original Edwardian buildings proudly proclaiming the rich history of the town.