HISTORICAL SYNOPSIS

INTRODUCTION: STATUTORY CONTEXT

Tokai / Porter Estate is an area of high cultural heritage significance: Tokai is considered to be of national heritage significance (Grade 1) by SAHRA, within the acclaimed Constantia Winelands Cultural Landscape,

and linking to Table Mountain National Park (also contemplated as a Grade 1 site), but the formal gazetting and protection is not in place.

Tokai Manor House and part of its historical Werf, and the Arboretum, were gazetted as National Monuments in 1961 and 1985 respectively. In terms of the National Heritage resources Act (No 25 of 1999) they are

now classified as Provincial Heritage Sites, and formally protected in terms of Section 27 of the NHRA; some of the other houses, offices, agricultural outbuildings within the precinct are over 60 years old and thus

have general protection in terms of Section 34. As the site is in excess of 5000 m2 and proposed interventions may change may change the character of the area, it is possible that a Heritage Impact Assessment

will be required in terms of Section 38 of the NHRA.

OUTLINE HISTORY OF TOKAI (AND PORTER ESTATE)

“The evolving cultural landscape of Porter Estate” Predominantly derived from Harris 1997 and Aikman Malan Winter 2001.

Prehistorical and Pre-Colonial Period

Early hunter-gatherers utilised the land’s natural resources, but left very little

impact on landscape. There are no known prehistorical archaeological sites

within the precinct. Khoikhoi nomadic pastoralists utilised the Peninsula over

some 2000 years, tending their flocks of cattle and sheep, and utilising fire to

extend pastures, modify landscape.

17th& 18thCentury: Dutch Colonial Period – Dutch East India Company (VOC)

In 1652 the Dutch East India Company/ VOC established a refreshment station

in Table Valley. Constantia established by Governor Simon van der Stel by

1694, began planting oaks widely. This area, called “Buffelskraal”, was used

as a cattle station by the VOC: the grazing was excellent.

Dutch Colonial Period – Private Ownership

6 Jan 1792: first freehold grant to Johan Andreas Rauch, retired VOC official.

The Freehold Grant describes it as “aan de Buffelskraal”, “situated under the

so-called Prinskasteel” (i.e. corruption of Prinseskasteel, Elephant’s Eye cave

high on Constantiaberg ‘reputed to have been stronghold of a Hottentot

Chiefteness’ (Mauve)

14 March 1792: transferred to Andreas Georg Hendrik Teubes (after 3 months).

Teubes built the fine house, carefully sited on the ridge between the Prinskasteel

and Flagstaff streams, & wine cellar, slave quarters, stables & kraals, and planted

70 000 vines.

19 November 1799: transferred to Jan Frederick Herwig

Referred to as Tokay for the 1st time (area in Hungary: sweet aromatic wine

famous in 18th C)

Pre-1652

Mar. 1792

1652

Jan. 1792

1799

Aerial View of Core Precinct 1883 (Harris)

In 1889 the Cape Colonial Govt transferred the Porter Reformatory from

Valkenberg Estate to Tokai. The boys were initially housed in the werf

outbuildings, and involved in farm work and crafts. In 1890 a new complex to

house the reformatory was built on a prominent site to the north. Its layout and

design was typical of British colonial military installations: long verandas and

interlocking courtyards, barracks and messes. The Manor House became the

Superintendent’s residence in 1892.

In 1898 Tokai Estate was surveyed & reconfigured: 136 morgen were reserved

for Porter School educational purposes; 303 morgen declared ‘demarcated

forest’, although the separate allocations for educational and forestry purposes

were not strictly adhered to.

20thCentury: Institutional Period – Reformatory and Forestry

Significant alterations to the landscape continued throughout the 20th

century.

The first School of Forestry was established at Tokai by 1906.

In 1912 Tokai School for Forest Apprentices opened with 8 students.

After 20 years the school moved to George, became Saasveld College for

Foresters. Forestry operations continued at Tokai throughout the

20th Century.

Recent Period

Tokai Manor House was declared a National Monument in 1961.

Arboretum was declared a National Monument in 1985.

At Porter Reformatory, vegetable growing and animal husbandry

continued until about 1980. Thereafter, academic & technical education

was the focus for the boys. The land lay fallow; invasive alien vegetation

soon took hold.

The Porter Reformatory was formally closed in 2000. Constantia School

for Boys closed in 2001.

The Chrysalis Academy was established early in the 21st Century

at the Porter campus.

2000

1889

1898

1906

1961

1985

1900

1912

SG Map 1902 (Aikman et al)

Manor House Forecourt, Late 19th Century (CA G835)

“This landscape is, in a sense, now dormant. It has come from a

state of incredible botanical diversity. It was first transformed by

nomadic pastoralists, later by nineteenth century farmers and

their slaves, and over a century ago by the government with their

forestry and reformatory farm.”

“The challenge is to determine how further transformations are

to take place without entirely obliterating the marks of the past.”

Aikman, Malan & Winter, 2001.

Manor House Rear Terraces, Early 20th Century (Elliott2653)

Plan of Porter Estate, 1947 (Aikman et al)

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

Preamble: Overall Context

“The inherited cultural landscape of Porter Estate has escalated from gradual change over

millennia towards much more rapid change over the last three hundred years and particularly

over the last century. Each period left its mark in the form of paths, roads, planting patterns,

drainage and irrigation furrows and structures ranging from terracing to walls to dams and

buildings.

“The overall landscape is a complex composite of natural, cultivated and built landscape

elements. It is a cultural landscape rather than a natural landscape; a landscape transformed by

thousands of years of settlement history. …

“It also has narrative qualities, possessing a rich layering of physical evidence spanning

thousands of years of human occupation and more than 200 years of permanent settlement. …

“It possesses a number of distinctive and inter-related precincts, which serve to clearly

demonstrate or are strongly associated with its various historical roles and uses as a place for

indigenous hunter-gatherers, grazing ground for herders, colonial cattle grazing station, colonial

farm, forestry station and reformatory.

“Within each of these precincts are groupings of buildings, patterns of planting, routes and

irrigation systems and collections of objects which have intrinsic historical, social, aesthetic and

scientific significance and also contextual significance in terms of their contribution to an

understanding and appreciation of the inherited landscape qualities of Porter Estate’s history and

associated memory.”

(Aikman Malan Winter 2001: 32)

Historical Significance

Buffelskraal/ Tokai/ Porter Estate have had an exceptionally rich, varied and layered

developmental history, considerably different to its neighbouring estates, throughout the Dutch

and English colonial periods and the 20th Century.

The impulses that have driven periods of major development or change are associated with

highly significant people: the Architect/ Engineer/ Surveyor LM Thibault who reputedly designed

the exceptionally fine Manor House; The Bequest of Irish Liberal William Porter purchased the

property for purposes of social reform and upliftment, and the establishment of the Porter

Reformatory; Joseph Storr-Lister effectively established commercial forestry in South Africa from

Tokai, which is also home of the first School of Forestry.

Changes through the late 20th C have witnessed a gradual diffusion of reforming impulses,

institutional processes and forestry activities, and the introduction or imposition of differing

environmental values.

Manor House Stoep, Early 20th Century (CA E 2371)

Social

The transformations of the Tokai landscape, and development of buildings and structures, may

have involved Khoisan herdsmen; has encompassed considerable use of slave labour, later the

use of convict labour, and extensive inputs of the reformatory boys.

Tokai and Porter Reformatory have considerable significance for past pupils and teachers.

Tokai has evolved into a major metropolitan hub of recreation, for walkers, hikers, mountain-

bikers, horse-riders etc, and is in the process of transformation to and development as the

“Gateway to Table Mountain National Park”.

Environmental, Ecological

The core Tokai settlement is superbly located at the base of the easterly-facing steeper slopes of

the Constantiaberg, on a slight promontory between two perennial streams. The imposing formal

composition of the homestead complex is enhanced by the axial approach along the tree-lined

avenue; the axis aligns on the peak of the towering Constantiaberg.

The entire Tokai precinct has rich and varied environmental qualities and opportunities, from the

low flatlands through the core historical settlement and the immense variety of trees, forests,

plantations and arboretum experiences.

The Tokai precinct has high ecological bio-diversity significance in terms of the re-creation of an

ecological corridor being developed to link the Constantiaberg Mountains to the Cape Flats

lowlands via the rehabilitation of a corridor or bands of endemic vegetation along the Prinskasteel

River. The precinct includes areas of “endangered” South Peninsula Granite Fynbos and

“critically endangered” Cape Flats Sand Fynbos.

Scientific and Technological

The extensive silvicultural experimentation, the establishment of the first major commercial

plantations in South Africa and location of the first School of Forestry at Tokai are of high

scientific significance.

The Arboretum is botanically world-renowned for its wide range of different tree species, which

has high scientific and educational value.

Architectural, Aesthetic

The recognised high architectural significance of Tokai Manor House, attributed to LM Thibault,

includes the approach avenue, the forecourt and flanking Outbuildings, the werf walls, slave bell-

tower and the axial rear stairs, pathway and terraced gardens.

It is a superb example and expression of a formally conceived, symmetrical and ordered Cape

Dutch homestead set within a majestic landscape setting.

The other buildings within the precinct are of lower, neutral or in some cases negative/ intrusive

aesthetic value, within the beautiful sylvan setting. The late 19th / early 20th C forestry buildings

including the TMNP Ranger’s Residence, the Stone Cottage and the Fire Stand-by House are

contributory within their immediate precincts and to the broader context.

Archaeological

The archaeological significance of the TMPP is largely undetermined; although the core historical

werf precinct (and the sites of the two collapsed outbuildings) “is potentially a rich archaeological

site of colonial period archaeology.” (Aikman et al 2001: 37).

RECOMMENDED GRADINGS : DRAFT HERITAGE INDICATORS

Refer to the draft Map of Heritage Resources, which indicates the recommended gradings for the

individual buildings, and the approximate extent of associated sub-precincts.

Grade 1 The entire Porter Estate is an area of high cultural heritage significance: Tokai is considered to be of

national heritage significance (Grade 1) by SAHRA, within the acclaimed Constantia Winelands Cultural

Landscape, and linking to Table Mountain National Park (also contemplated as a Grade 1 site), but the

formal gazetting and protection is not in place.

Retain, regain and interpret evidence and elements of all of the meaningful periods and layers of history

from pre-colonial times through Cattle Station, Wine Estate, Forestry nursery, experimentation,

education and plantations, Convict Station, Porter Reformatory to the contemporary recreational and

environmental activities.

Maintain and enhance the significances of the core Tokai Manor House Werf within its overall cultural

landscape context, recognising its linkages to different areas, functions and interventions over time

including grazing lands, vineyards, plantations and arboretum, orchards, vegetable gardens and “water-

leidings”, as well as significant historical routes, avenues, axes and settings.

Balance the bio-diversity “imperatives” with the meaningful retention of cultural landscapes!

Develop an overall conservation and development framework that integrates the different elements and

layers in a holistic manner, without overemphasising new patterns or destroying/ sanitising significant

historical fabric.

Grade 2 Tokai Manor House (National Monument 1961), werf and core historical Outbuildings, axial approach

avenue and rear terraced gardens.

Arboretum (National Monument 1985)

Conserve; Remedial action to enhance significance; Minimal intervention; and Interpretation.

Grade 3A Orpen House (north of the c1795 “cellar/ slave quarters” outbuilding)

Conserve; Remedial action to enhance significance; Retain historical fabric (interior and exterior of

building); and Minimal intervention.

Grade 3B TMNP Section Ranger’s Residence

Conserve; Retain and enhance significance; and Retain historical fabric (predominantly building

exterior).

Grade 3C Orpen Cottage

Stone Cottage

Wood Owl Cottage

Stand-By House

Stables

Conserve wherever possible; Retain historical fabric wherever possible (exterior only); Conserve and

enhance contribution to overall character and streetscape; and Demolition could only be considered if

appropriate adaptive reuses cannot be established.

Buildings over 60 years (ungraded) Depot (Paff) House

Stores & Workshops

Forester’s Cottages (b & c)

Bosdorp Workers’ Cottages

Cape Research Centre (but remodelled c2008)

Demolition could be considered.

Tokai Façade (CA AG 8492)

Heritage Resources Plan

British Colonial Period – Private Ownership

1 November 1800: property transferred to Johan Caspar Loos. Loos died in

1802, after selling Tokai.

1 June 1802: Tokai was transferred to Petrus Michiel Eksteen

Eksteen obtained substantial additional land grants; bankrupt January

1849, died soon after. Public sale of properties.

2 June 1851: Transferred to relatives Sebastian Valentyn Eksteen &

Jacob Pieter Eksteen, who owned it until 1883. The Eksteens developed

and further transformed the landscape through much of the 19th Century.

Towards the end of the 19th Century many farmers in the Cape were in a

state of economic ruin due to the epidemic vine disease phylloxera,

which decimated the productive vineyards, as well as severe drought,

labour difficulties, the removal of preferential wine exports, and widespread

economic depression. Many farms were sold or subdivided; the Cape

Colonial Government bought up some.

British Colonial Period – Forestry and Philanthropy

Tokai Estate was one of the first farms procured by the Cape Government in

1883, utilising funds from the William Porter bequest. William Porter, an Irish

liberal, had a distinguished career as Attorney General of the Cape Colony

1839 to 1865. Porter drew up his Will in 1878, bequeathing £20 000 for

“establishment and maintenance of reformatories for young offenders

sentenced by the Colonial Courts”.

Tokai was initially bought for the establishment of a “Lunatic Asylum” i.e.

psychiatric hospital, proposed to house the patients transferred from

Robben Island. Following strong objections from neighbouring farmers,

the plan was discarded.

Between 1883 and 1905 Tokai was the centre of forestry experimentation

and development.

Joseph Storr Lister, appointed in 1875 as Superintendent of Plantations,

realised the need for plantations of exotics. He commenced forestry

operations at Tokai in 1883, amongst the first commercial plantations in the

country. Between 1885 and 1888 he and wife Georgina were resident at

Tokai homestead. A large number of exotic species were planted behind the

homestead, forming the nucleus of the Arboretum. The nursery provided over

200 000 plants annually by the end of the 19th C, for afforestation work and for

public sale. Convict labour was used for the forestry work, propagating

seedlings, damming of streams, digging irrigation furrows etc. More roads built,

the most significant being Tokai Road, linking the forest station to the railway

line and Main Road. “Convict Outstation” – housed in the outbuildings, with a

number of additions, later referred to as “Ou Orpen Huis” after Captain Harry

Orpen, who had been in charge.

1800

1875

1883

1851

1802

Arrival Axis and Manor House, Late 19th Century (SANParks)

Tokai 1895 (SA Views, SA Library)

1902, SG Plan (Harris, Colours TT)