More about the Cape Farmhouse

The recorded history of Simonstown and the "land behind the hills" begins shortly after the arrival of Jan Van Riebeeck in the Cape. When Simonstown was established as a harbour, and the advent of the Free Burghers, expeditions to Cape Point as well as farming on the land behind the hills of Simonstown were common occurrences.

Van Riebeeck noted aspects of various expeditions in his diaries.

The first mention of the farm Wildskutsbrand is on the 14th of July 1738. Gearge (Jurgen) Schoester (1691–1758) was granted a license to graze sheep in the are. At this time the entire area became known as the Veld Coronetsy of Wildskutsbrand. It was common at the time to name districts after the most important area.

It appears as if Schoester was a well known character in the area at the time since a number of places have been named after him.

The HMS HOLLAND, a Dutch frigate, commanded by Captain Willem Silverster, was wrecked near Olifantsbos Point (Just South of Scarborough) on the 11th May 1786, at night while on a voyage from Holland to Java. Eight lives were lost in the Disaster. A man by the name of Johannes (Hans) Soblee (also known as Soufflet and Soblet) was instrumental in saving the rest of the ships crew and most of its stores. For this brave deed, Sobler was granted the farm Wildskutbrand by Governor Van Der Graaf. The deck of the ship Holland was used in the construction of the ceiling of the Farmhouse, the curved profile can still be seen today. Soblee and his mistress Hester lived on the farm “near the fountain” (water spring) until his death in 1800/1801. Just prior to his death, Soblee, with the assistance of a Simonstown resident Christoffel Brandt (who was present when the governor made the compensatory grant),made application to have this land grant validated in writing. The Right Honourable Sir George Young was approached for his "consideration to confirm the grant, made by Governor Van Der Graaff, or in default thereof to allow him to occupy the place on loan, he paying the usual rent of four and twenty six dollars for the same".

During 1808, Hester allowed Barend Muller to cultivate the land since she had become advanced in the age and was not able to manage her affairs. In the same year, Barend Muller made application for and was granted the land on the quit rent system . The rights of the fountain were to be shared with Nicholaas Sertyn of the Farm Klaver Valley.

The adjoining land was farmed by Aaron Moses until the 13th of February 1824 when Andries Albertus Bruyns took over this quit rent loan. On the 28th of July 1877 David Gabriel Malherbe purchased the properties from both Muller and Bruyns and the combined property became known by the name Wildskutsbrand.

While under ownership of the Malherbe family, the farm hosted a "kalkhok" where shells were burnt to produce a lime for building purposes and a blacksmiths shop where repairs were made to the metal bands for wagon wheels. The farm had abundant orchards as well as "white clay" (Koalin)

On February 1982, Malte Schotte bought the farm from the Malherbe family. Photos of Malte and his children are on display at the Farmhouse.

In 1992 The Kopfer family bought the Farm and the family now runs the Cape Farmhouse Restaurant, which started in 2003. The Farm Wildschutsbrand now boasts a few businesses at present; a local jeweler Casimi, an African curio shop, Red Rock Tribal and Zimbabwean Sculptures, Little Piece of Africa.