Page 37 - Bulletin 21

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ground spring runs to this day. During c. 1717 - 1813 the availability of water was paramount

in the granting of land – be it a spring or river. A land grant (under the Dutch) was measured
from a central point which was generally a spring (fontein) or perennial river close to where

the applicant was to build their house. Poespaskraal was certainly positioned here because of
the springs.

Some of the vegetation planted is still evident today. Pomegranate trees and hedges, guava
trees, quince trees and a line of oak trees still grace the property. Even more remarkable is

that they still bear fruit!

Access to the Poespaskraal property was through two whitewashed sandstone pillars and
along a straight dirt road which was approximately one kilometre in length. The road was

lined with oak trees on either side and was known as “The Avenue”. The trees must have

been a beautiful sight and made the journey along the road pleasantly shady. Sadly by 1941
the oak trees had all died leaving an unlined road. Fortunately an abundance of aloes and

arum lilies, depending on the season, added a splash of colour along the sides of the road.

In Carel George Wieser’s day, hunting parties were held at the Old Homestead and Vaal
Reebok were hunted in abundance. Hunters made the journey on horseback on a dust track

from Constantia over the Steenberg mountain range into the valley – a route similar to
today’s Ou Kaapse Weg! (Fig. 2.5.)

Mr. Wieser died in 1759 and the farm changed hands repeatedly. Some early owners were:

 Johannes Bruijns 1759: 30 morgen;

 Petrus Joubert 1786: 30 morgen;
 Pieter Henkes c.1803/1806: 80 morgen – in 1814, 50 morgen were granted for

planting Kreupelhoudt which was needed for a tannery;

 I. N. Jone 1817: 696 morgen 10 square roods – in 1817 Poespaskraal grew to 626
morgen 10 square roods and in 1822 an additional 70 morgen perpetual quitrent were

granted;

 Pierre Roscher 1833: 730 morgen – further land was granted and the boundaries of
Poespaskraal were amended;