In 1683 land along the Liesbeek River was granted to Herman Weeckens by Simon van der Stel. The farm was named De Oude Wijnbergh. The Cape's rough seas in the winter months led to a formal winter anchorage in 1743 where ships would dock at Simons' Baai. A wagon route linking Cape Town to Simon's Town went over the hill adjacent to De Oude Wjinbergh estate. When the British took control of the Cape settlement on 16 Sept 1795 the small farming area of Wynberg developed rapidly into a garrison town, as the British settled a large number of troops in the area. A notable settler was Alexander Tennant who built a house still standing, named Sonnebloem. At Wynberg the Dutch had earlier made a show of resistance, but they were soon driven from their post by the British. Wynberg was a convenient halfway point between Table Bay and False Bay and this led to a hub of commercial activity. The authorities had allotted places where large teams of oxen could be unyoked and graze which made this possible. The village provided farmers with an alternative to the market in Cape Town. As more farms were subdivided commercial and residential properties began to increase. Diplomat Edmund Roberts passed through Wynberg in 1833. He described it as being "beautiful," and being "adorned with a great number of gentlemen's seats, and neat cottages, the avenues leading to them having well-trimmed hedges of myrtle and oak..." The famous astronomer John Herschel lived at Wynberg between 1834 and 1838, where he set up a telescope to study the southern hemisphere skies, and also did some botanical work on South African flowers together with his wife Margaret. In addition, it was in Wynberg that the young Charles Darwin met Herschel in 1836, a meeting which considerably influenced Darwin's later work. Battswood School was established in 1891 by Martha Grey. Martha was a local coloured woman, born at the time of the emancipation of slavery in 1838. The school was closed and the property sold by the Dutch Mission Church in 1997, it was officially re-opened in Ottery, Cape Town, a few kilometres from Wynberg by ex-President Mandela in 2001. One of South Africa's first electric power plants was built in Wynberg on Electric Road in 1893. Opened by the mayor of Wynberg, James Bisset, to provide power to a local tram system and public streetlights.
Geography
Wynberg is bordered by Kenilworth to the north and Plumstead to the south east, Constantia is situated to its west. Wynberg railway station is on the main line from Cape Town to Simon's Town. Main Road runs through Wynberg, and the suburb can also be accessed from the M3 freeway which skirts the west of the Neighborhood close to the Wynberg Military Base.
Demographics
As of the census of 2001, there were 4,417 households and 12,821 people residing in the suburb. The racial makeup of the suburb was 8.42% Black African, 49.82% Coloured, 11.93% Indian/Asian, 29.83% White and 0% from other races. In the suburb the population was spread out with 24.67% under the age of 18, 29.94% from 18 to 34, 25.65% from 35 to 54, 8.74% from 55 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 85.44 males. 77.69% of the population speak English, 15.34% speak Afrikaans, 4.45% speak Xhosa, 1.59% speak another African language and 0.92% some other language as a first language.
Arts and Culture
The Maynardville Community Chest Carnival takes place annually, during the first half of the year.
Attractions and amenities
Maynardville Park and Open-air Theater
Wynberg Park
Dutch Reformed Church
Education
, on the hillside above the main village, is the second oldest school in South Africa, having been established in 1841. It is located on Hawthornden Estate alongside the former stately home of Prince Labia. The Junior School is housed in Victorian buildings in Cape Town designed by acclaimed architect Sir Herbert Baker. There are two prominent all-girls schools in the area: Wynberg Girls' High School is located near the village, whilst the Springfield Convent School is a Catholic school situated close to Wynberg Boys' High School.
The military base was established in 1804 following the report of a commission appointed to find a suitable base for the 'Hottentot Corps'. The farm of Alexander Tennant, De Oude Wynberg, was selected. From 1804 the military took increasing interest in this strategic location. Tennant sold 78 morgen to the Cape government in March 1809; while the British Secretary at War acquired a further 54 morgen in June 1886. December 1921 saw the transfer of the all the land, property and buildings to the government of the Union of South Africa. A rock behind 2 Military Hospital bears an inscription recording the dates when the 59th Regiment formed part of the Cape garrison: 1806, 1859–61, 1911-14. The Officers' Mess was declared a Provincial Heritage Site.
Coat of arms
Wynberg was a municipality in its own right from 1886 to 1927. The town council adopted a coat of arms, designed by councillor Stanley Ponder, on 17 June 1895. The shield was quartered. In the first quarter were three golden rings on a red background. In the second quarter was a black anchor on a golden background, representing the Cape Colony. The third quarter was black, showing a white tent with a pennant flying. The fourth quarter depicted a golden vine and three fleurs de lis against a green background. The motto was Vivit crescat floreat vitis. Variants of these arms were later adopted by Wynberg Boys' High School, the Wynberg Bowling Club, Wynberg Sports Club, Wynberg Club and South Peninsula Rugby Football Club.
