History of Bellville

• Province Western Cape
• Coordinates: 33°54′00″S 18°38′00″E
• Area: 52.39 km²
• Municipality: Bellville

Bellville, located about 25 km from Cape Town’s city centre, began as a rural rest stop along the old wagon route to Stellenbosch. Known originally as “12 Myl Post” (Twelfth Milestone), it served as a halfway post between Cape Town and Stellenbosch where farmers rested their oxen and wagons on the way to market. A post office was established nearby at 11 Myl Post in 1853, likely attached to an inn. The area was also informally known as Hardekraaltjie.

In 1861, the small settlement was formally laid out as a village and renamed the town after Charles Davidson Bell, Surveyor-General of the Cape Colony. The following year, the railway line between Cape Town and Stellenbosch opened, connecting it to surrounding areas and stimulating growth.

By the 1880s,  light industry appeared with the Van Riebeeck Mineral Water Company, the town’s first factory. In 1900, an American firm with interests in the Tygerberg quarry purchased the Willows estate from Mr Duminy, leading to the development of the Boston area with streets such as Lincoln and Broadway.

Modern infrastructure followed quickly. In 1912, Mr Zeeman opened the first local motor garage and became its first driving instructor. A regular bus service to Cape Town began in 1926, and in 1928, the town celebrated the arrival of electricity with a banquet at the Bellville Hotel.

It became a municipality in 1940, marking its administrative independence. The Bellville South industrial area opened in 1953, cementing its role as a manufacturing hub. Residential growth continued with the establishment of Welgemoed in 1955, nicknamed “Skuldbult” at the time.

By 2011, the town celebrated its 150th anniversary, marking its evolution from a simple wagon rest stop into one of Cape Town’s major urban and commercial centres.

Suburbs of Bellville

Amanada Glen, Bellair, Beroma, Bloemhof, Blommendal, Blomtuin, Bosbell, Boston, Chrismar, De la Hey, Door de Kraal, Eversdal Glenhaven, Groenvallei, Heemstede, Hoheizen, Kanonberg, Kenridge, La Rochelle, Labiance, Loevenstein, Mimosa, Oakdale, Oakglen, Oude Westhof, Protea Valley, Ridgeworth, Rosendal, Stellenberg, Stellenridge, Stellenryk, Stikland, Tygerberg Hills, van Riebeeckshof, Vredelust, Vredenburg and Welgemoed

The postcode for  is 7530, and the number plate prefix is CY

Things to see and do in Bellville

• Jack Muller Park Outdoor Gym  Frans Conradie Drive, Boston
• Athletics stadium and velodrome
• Reptile garden at Stodels Garden Centre

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WEATHER IN BELLVILLE TODAY

Useful Numbers

• Police:  021 918 3000
• Traffic department: 021 444 8258
• Fire: 021 444 8279
• `Water: 0860 103 089
•  Electricity:0860 103 089
• Ambulance: 10177
• Home affairs 021 944 6211/ 6240 / 6200
• Post office; 021 945 3900

Tygervalley 021 914 1701

Welgemoed 021 913 3484

• Welgemoed residents association. info@welgemoed.org.za
• Huguenot Square Community centre:021 400 3507
• Proteaville Recreation Community Centre: 021 444 0265
• Closest hospital/clinic; Melomed private hospital021 948 8131 ; Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt021 957 000; Karl Bremmer Hospital- 021 918 1911 ; Marie Stopes 080 011 7785;Reed Street Day clinic021 946 3790 ; Medicross 021 948 5721 ; Kasselvlei Community Health centre 021 951 2326

• Pharmacy; M-kem Oakdale 021 948 5706
• Bellville South Community Centre
• Blomvlei community centre 021 444 0410
• SPCA: Bellville Animal Anti Cruelty League- 021 951 3010
• Schools

: Bellville Primary School- 021 948 5241

The Settlers High School-021 948 6116

Hoërskool Bellville- (021) 948 1801

D.F. Malan High School-021 948 8781

Laerskool Bellville-Noord-021 948 3654

Laerskool Bellpark Primary School-021 919 0002

Labiance Primary School-021 949 9740

Boston Primary School-021 948 2526

Bellville Technical High School-021 948 6951

Laerskool Welgemoed Primary School-021 913 2104

Laerskool Totius- 021 948 3944

Bellville Noord Primary School-021 948 3654

Vredelust Primary School-021 948 3051

Bellville-Suid Primary School-021 951 5870

Holy Cross Sisters’ School-021 919 4734

Excelsior Primary School-021 948 4797

Stellenberg High School-021 919 1029

La Rochelle Pre-Primary-021 919 4506

The City of Cape Town Public Emergency Communication Centre is available 24/7 For all life or property-threatening emergencies, call 021 480 7700 from any phone or 107 from a landline or report online at https://bit.ly/3o4Ji3K

Winsley Primary School-021 951 1441

Westcliff Special Secondary School-021 948 4877