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Camps Bay has an enviable position along the Atlantic Seaboard and is flanked by Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles mountain range, boasting some of the most sought after properties in Cape Town. With approximately 5000 households, properties in Camps Bay range from luxury villas, chic penthouses and quaint cottages to established family residences. Due to its popularity, Camps Bay real estate has an air of exclusivity, with many of South Africa’s discerning business and social elite owning property in the area.

Camps Bay  is the cosmopolitan darling of Cape Town, known for its impressive panoramic coastal views and fashionably chic atmosphere. It would surprise you to find that Jan van Riebeeck had a far less flattering impression of the area. Jan van Riebeeck’s first response when surveying the area was rather unfavourable, with him firmly stating that the land would not sustain farmers and its tumultuous bay littered with rocky outcrops. It posed a serious danger for passing ships. At the time, he wasn’t far from wrong as the area was a windswept wilderness where lion, leopard, baboons and buck wandered freely.

The land was originally inhabited by local San and Khoi tribes who capitalised on their unique knowledge of the land, adopting hunter-gathering techniques and using the tides to trap shallow swimming fish. Unfortunately, their reign of the area soon ended upon the arrival of the Settlers, who brought with them a lethal combination of measles and smallpox. This endemic laid waste to a large portion of their population, with afflicted tribesman restricted to the nearby area of Oudekraal.

The first property erected in Camps Bay was owned by Johan Loedewyk Wernich who named his farmhouse Ravenstyn. The farmhouse was later inherited by his son Johan Jan, who as an eligible young man had the unique pleasure of having three wives. Anna Koekemoer, a former widow, was the most notable of his wives. When Johan passed away, Anna quickly found a new spouse in Frederik Von Kampz. Von Kampz monopolised on their burgeoning lovematch and became the new owner by default of Ravenstyn. The land later became known as Die Baai van Von Kampz, which subsequently evolved into its current name, Camps Bay. Gradual development in the area occurred over the next century with the establishment of the Roundhouse in 1807 - a firm favourite of Lord Charles Somerset who used it as a hunting lodge. 1848 saw the construction of Lady Smith’s Pass - a precursor to Kloof Road as well as Victoria Drive in the latter part of the century, which was a coastal road linking Sea Point and Camps Bay.

Residents of the Mother City remained unconvinced that Camps Bay was an ideal area to plant their roots and call home. Camps Bay’s unofficial mayor of the time, James Riddell Farquhar, realised a lifelong dream of bringing a bit of Brighton to the southernmost tip of Africa and arranged the planting of palm trees along the beachfront which can still be seen today. Unbeknownst to Farquhar, he inadvertently spurred the “summer holiday resort” ambience that locals began to associate with Camps Bay. He was also responsible for driving the construction of the tidal pool as well as the Rotunda which was used for dancing, roller skating, silent movies and church services.

This spur of development attracted throngs of holiday-makers who made Camps Bay their preferred holiday destination and it soon became the place to be seen. It was only during the latter part of the 1930’s that Camps Bay started gaining traction as a preferred residential area, when Mr Isodore Cohen bought up virtually all of the land available in Camps Bay. He was responsible for spearheading a complete civil infrastructure which included roads, electricity lines and water connections. He offered plots and houses to the general public for a reasonable monthly sum with no deposit required and after 10 to 15 years residents would acquire ownership. The offer was hard to resist and attracted an onslaught of new residents, setting Camps Bay firmly on its trajectory to achieving the suburban cachet that was to define its future.

Whether your children are making their first tentative steps in kindergarten or entering their final year of high school, Newlands is a great suburb to live and learn in. Newlands has a variety of top-notch schools, both public and private. Many of the schools and academic institutions have established and maintained an excellent reputation over the past few decades. Part of the attraction of staying in Newlands is that it boasts a great selection of premier schools within close proximity, making it easier for you to stay involved with your child’s education. Parents who are fortunate enough to have additional time to spend on school involvement and volunteering show their children that they have a genuine interest in their education; it also sends a positive message to the school and surrounding community that you consider it a worthwhile cause.

Active parents are considered to be a hugely valuable resource and support base for the school and it is a great way to teach young children the importance of participating in their community. After all, the old African proverb states “It takes a village to raise a child”. Even if you haven’t been actively involved in the past, perhaps now is the perfect time to start. 

The following is a list of schools found in Newlands that have consistently delivered well-balanced students of exceptional academic pedigree year after year.

Junior Schools

Newlands Primary

The Hill Pre-Primary School

Western Province Preparatory School

Hershel Preparatory Girls School (Grade 1 – Grade 7)

Rondebosch Boys Preparatory School

Rustenburg High School for Girls

The Grove Primary School

South African College Schools – Junior School

Herzlia Primary School

Springfield Convent Junior School

High schools:

Hershel Senior Girls School

San Souci Girls High School

Rondebosch Boys High School

Rustenberg Girls High School

South African College Schools – Junior School

International School of Cape Town

Herzlia High School

The suburb of Newlands encompasses multi-functional areas compassing residential, commercial, educational and recreational areas, all steeped in rich history. Newlands is favourably dissected by the M3 motorway, making access to the city centre, University of Cape Town, airport and surrounding suburbs quick and convenient.

Newlands offers an extensive melange of property types, from multilevel homes found in Fernwood to quaint and charming cottages found in the “Village”. Modern as well as traditional free standing homes are the staple of Fernwood, located below Rhodes Drive, where the size of the property is generally larger than in the “Village”. Captivating townhouses and contemporary apartments are coveted properties and can be found on the market from time to time.

Newlands is subdivided into a number of zones: Fernwood Upper and Lower, which are separated by Rhodes Drive and Hiddingh Estate, and Upper Newlands, which is divided by Newlands Avenue. Fernwood Upper has in recent years seen substantial development, with three and four bedroom houses boasting panoramic views over the southern peninsula. These properties have achieved consistently excellent growth within the property market.

The trendy and upmarket area known as Newlands Village includes Kildare and Palmboom roads and, although the erven are relatively smaller (ranging from 120m² to 650m²), the charming ambience and close proximity to schools, lifestyle boutiques and restaurants make this a popular choice for working professionals and young families. Hiddingh Estate is favoured amongst growing families as these are traditionally large plots which are conveniently located close to a number of the Western Cape’s premier schools.

The Kelvin area with its Edwardian-styled homes remains a firm favourite with families who have school-going children as it is in close proximity to schools. The area of Newlands has also seen a 

trend in the development of highly optimised security estates. Boshof Estate on Boshof Avenue and Riversong on Riverside Road are prime examples of high quality security developments where safety and enhanced quality of life is the tantamount objective. Townhouses in these estates are excellent starter investments for first time property buyers.

It’s not hard to understand why the suburb of Newlands has retained its popularity. With its central position within easy reach of the rest of the southern suburbs and city, wealth of premier schools, and superb shopping and sporting facilities, Newlands remains a coveted area to plant your roots and invest in property.

If you are looking for handmade cheese, you have to visit Constantia Cheesery. Their cheese is sourced from from all over South Africa and also have a large range of organic cheese. It is situated on the corner of Collete Close and Frederick Selous Avenue, Constantia, Cape Town. You can also find it at the Neighbour Goods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill.