Archistori

Aka: Doren Fontijn View from the Yeoville ridge: suburban development on the farm Doornfontein in distance. (Source: Grocott & Sherry's, Album of Johannesburg, 1898) Notes Owned by B.C. Viljoen In 1853 the inspection commission received requests for inspection from the occupiers of several tracts of land on the Witwatersrand, who wished to obtain title to them as owners' farms ( eigenaarsplaatsen ). Reports submitted included one for "Doren Fontijn" owned by Mr Barend Viljoen. It was listed as having one spring and being 6 hours from Pretoria (the nearest town). It was inspected with riding times: North 16 min, West 15 min, South 30 min, East 45 min. Barend Christiaan Viljoen (1807 - 1859) married Judith Cornelia Theresia Booysen (c.1807 Graaff-Reinet - c.1861 Cape) A diagram of the farm in 1853 which only roughly corresponds to the later surveyor's map. ( Copy of the Sketch accompanying the inspection report. Reproduced in MH Kunneke' s unpublished resea...

Koelkap Farm, Piketberg. Sketch by JC Poortermans, 1849. (Africana Museum 6364) Contextual Timeline Overview Land use and ownership have long reflected the lifestyle and basic needs of communities. When land is developed through effort and expense to yield greater future harvests, it leads to more settled communities and associated land ownership. Various systems of land use and ownership have been implemented since 1652.  Documentation was issued to individuals specifying conditions, which could vary. Over time, documents were issued for three types: grazing rights, loan farms, and freehold farms. In 1813, this was replaced by the perpetual quitrent system, which is still in use today. F rom 1652, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) considered itself the owner of all land under its control, except for freehold farms and plots. Successive governments continued this view. As early as 1655, specific Cape Town residents were permitted to establish gardens and keep animals. Permits were...