History

Province:Western Cape
Coordinates: 33.517°S 18.467°E
Area: 1.87 km2
Municipality; City of Cape Town

Mamre, 17 kilometers away from Darling is a pretty mission settlement, with neat rows of whitewashed cottages, each one having its own little garden with stately oak trees. It was established in the late 1600s by Cape Governor, Simon van der Stel. Mamre was previously called Groenkloof. This outpost was established as a military and cattle post that would protect settlers and their cattle from the Khoikhoi. The military outpost was known as De Kleine Post and was established here in 1701.

The outpost served as a trading station until it was closed in 1791 It was then established as a mission by Kohrhammer and Schmitt, two Moravian missionaries from Germany. This was welcomed by Lord Caledon Cape governor In 1808. The missionaries used abandoned military buildings and built a school and a church which are now national monuments. They also built a watermill, dated 1844. The Moravian Church founded its second mission station here in 1808. The town was named Mamre in 1854 after the biblical Mamre which means ‘fatness’. The settlement became a centre for education. Community members were trained in various skills.

There are several heritage buildings to see such as “Long House, farmhouse”. This served as barracks for the garrison between 1701 and 1791. The Parsonage was built in 1701 and the mission church with its Cape Dutch gable was built in 1814 The school, stables, bakery, packing shed, and water mill can still be seen today. The water mill built in 1844, is a museum. 33°30’28.86″ S 18°28’18.10 E This mill replaced the horse mill which had been built in 1830. The iron parts were obtained from a disused mill in Cape Town.

The oldest building in the village was built in1697 as a homestead but in the 18th century it was used as a barracks for the garrison that was stationed there to protect the farmers against stock thieves

The church in Mamre is still used for services.

Postal codes for Mamre (street) 7349. PO box. 7347

Things to see and do in Mamre

Wheels of Time 2 day cycle challenge
Donkey cart ride through town
.Explore nature in the Mamre Nature Garden
Do the Heritage walk

WEATHER IN MAMRE TODAY

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Useful Numbers

Police: 021 576 0693
Traffic department: Atlantis Traffic Department-021 444 1330
Fire: Atlantis Fire Station-021 444 4260
Water: 0860 103 089
Electricity:0860 103 089
Ambulance: 10177
Post office;021 576 100
Closest hospital;Mamre Community Health Centre-021 576 1175
Mamre Community Centre/Paradise Lane Hall and Mamre Community hall:021 444 3605
Library:021 576 1661
Pharmacy;Clicks – Atlantis-021 572 2492
SPCA: 021 700 4140
Schools:Mamre Primary School-021 576 1115

Mamre