History of Claremont

• Province; Western Cape
• Coordinates; 33°58′50″S 18°27′55″E
• Area: 5.21 km2
• Municipality: City of Cape Town

Before the Dutch colonists arrived in 1652, the Cape Peninsula was largely inhabited by the Khoisan people, who were nomadic. The Dutch established an outpost in Table Bay, and after 165,7 they ventured further south to establish farms. Two of these farms, Louwvliet and Questenburg, were in the areas now called Claremont and Newlands. The area remained agricultural for at least 150 years. Some of the farms in the area produced grapes, others, grain and vegetables.
In the 1800s British settlers bought up properties here and the village began to grow. The area was named after the Claremont house estate in the area.

One of the most influential families in the early development of the area was the Arderne family, who began planting the gardens that would later become Arden Gardens in 1845. This garden remains a Provincial Heritage Site today.

A few cottages were built in lower Claremont for working-class people, referred to by the government of the time as “non-Europeans. The area grew more when the railway line was extended to Wynberg in 1864. By 1883 the area was incorporated into the Liesbeek municipality, which included Upper Claremont, Rondebosch, Wynberg, Mowbray and Newlands.

In 1883, Lower and Upper Claremont were incorporated into the Liesbeeck municipality. By 1890, the area had grown enough to be granted separate municipal status. However, in 1913, Claremont was officially absorbed into the Cape Town municipality.

The end of the Anglo-Boer War saw a housing boom when there was a further subdivision of the larger estates during the 1900s.

After the advent of the British takeover in 1814, the area became more residential than agricultural.
As the suburb grew, the main road developed into a commercial hub. Claremont was granted municipal status and became a suburb of Cape Town in 1913.

However, the suburb was identified as a “black spot” in 1953 due to African families squatting in “informal housing” in the suburb. A visiting official reported that the government had to ”get rid” of black and coloured residents. The Group Areas Act of 1913 sealed their fate, and blacks were no longer allowed to own or rent land outside their designated areas, which were in locations on the outskirts of the city. In 1969, Lower Claremont was declared a white area. All owners of colour had to sell to white people.
After this rezoning, it was renamed Harfield Village.

Vintage photo of Main Road

Post 1994, Coloured people started moving back into the area. It is now cosmopolitan with people of all colours and cultures making their homes and conducting business locally

WEATHER IN CLAREMONT TODAY

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Useful Numbers in Claremont

• Police: 021 657 2250
• Municipality City Of Cape Town 0860 103 089
• Traffic Department: Hillstar Traffic Department
• Fire: Wynberg-021 444 9623
• Water:0860 103 089
• Electricity:0860 103 089
• Ambulance:10177
• Post office;021 674 3800
• Claremont Civic Centre: 021 444 6948
• Closest hospital;
• Claremont private hospital-21 670 4300
• Life Kingsbury hospital- ER 0216704180
• Clinic-021 444 6426
• Pharmacy;Synergy pharmacy-021 671 7100
• Library-021 673 2060
• SPCA: Cape of Good Hope SPCA-021 700 4140
• Schools: Claremont High School-021 671 0645

Claremont Primary School-021 674 2126
Herschel Girls School-021 670 7500
Rosmead Central Primary School-021 671 6502
Livingstone High School-021 671 5986
Western Province Preparatory School-021 761 8074
Garfield Pre-primary-021 674 2354
Greenfield Girls’ Primary School-021 797 0554
Bairnsleigh Pre-Primary School-021 671 3390
Herschel Secondary School-021 670 7500
Herschel Girls Preparatory School-021 670 7520
Batavia School-021 671 5110