Rondebosch Common

Description

The Rondebosch Common is a large park-like area in Rondebosch, Cape Town. The open area is used for various recreational purposes by the locals in Rondebosch. People come here to jog, take morning and evening strolls, fly kites, cycle, or simply sit down and relax.

Flora on the Rondebosch Common

These 100 acres of open land hold over 200 species of flora, all of which are native to the Cape. The place is lush with fynbos which is spread throughout the Rondebosch Common, and there are even some types of fynbos that are only found on the common itself! The common is also home to buttercups, irises, arum lilies, and gazanias. These are just a tiny example of the vast range of species here.

History of the Rondebosch Common

The Rondebosch Common was declared a National Monument in 1961 and it still holds that title. Maps from 1807 show that the Rondebosch Common was once used as a military encampment by the Dutch, and in 1855 the land became open for public use when the rector of St. Paul’s church was given permission to gaze his cows on this land. Slowly and steadily, parts of the land was used for various purposes and even the esteemed Red Cross Children’s Hospital was once a part of the Rondebosch Common. The remaining unused-land is now dedicated to the people of Rondebosch, and will never be developed.