Page 147 - Bulletin 22 2019

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In 1913 extensive additions were made to Braemar Villa to the plan of Reid & Delbridge and the

1921 Donaldson Directory lists Dempers living at Braemar Villa. Presumably like many other
busi-nessmen he took the train to Cape Town every day.

In 1920 Braemar Villa was bought by James Rawbone - another distinguished addition to the

Harris Road community. (Fig. 3.40.) Rawbone like Dempers was a JP and was also an MLA for
Stellenbosch. But he was most famous for his ownership of the stud farm Broadlands at

Somerset West. He was a noted cattle breeder with a famous Ayrshire cattle stud. He was also a
distinguished horse breeder and among other posts was President of the Stud Book Association.

He may have moved to Kalk Bay following the death of his wife Rosalie. She was one of

Andrew Bain’s granddaughters and was only 53 when she died at Broadlands in 1918.

Rawbone used his influence to take up the cause of the gravelling of a footpath and making up of

Harris Road soon after buying Braemar Villa. He also asked that the ‘Thursday Morning Market’

site, at what was to become the foot of Clairvaux Road, be graveled. No doubt his position in
society carried weight and some work was done but it was not until 1926 that Harris Road was

properly made up as a footpath. (Fig. 3.41.)

In terms of legislation at the time, if the majority of homeowners petitioned for a road to be made
up, estimates were prepared and the costs apportioned in proportion to the frontage of their

property. In the case of Rawbone the cost was calculated at £76 16s 11½d. There were
complaints by owners who had not signed the petition – including the Union Government who

complained that the charge for the Police Station was £233 1s 2¾d for which they received no
benefit at all.

James Rawbone died aged 76 at Braemar Villa on 18 February 1934 and the house was sold to

Frederick Coventry Zeederberg. He was an accountant by profession and related by marriage to
the De Villiers family (see below). He lived at their house Huguenot next door before buying

Braemar Villa. He died there aged 81 on 24 October 1959 and in 1964 the property was
transferred to his wife Lissy (Mari Antoni) Zeederberg (born Wittig). Despite the house being

owned by the family for more than 30 years no further information has been found.