The unkowns of Roeland Street

Roeland Street

Traversing through the center of cosmopolitan Cape Town in an east-west direction lies Roeland Street- a bustling avenue renowned for its vibrant collection of commercial enterprises ranging from specialty stores to chic eateries that offer visitors a rich cultural experience unlike any other.

With a length extending up to approximately 1.5 kilometers long and is flanked by iconic architectural marvels on either end such as the revered Cape Town City Hall which serves as a focal point in local government affairs and houses many prominent government offices including municipal courts. In addition to its primary route, the street intersects with several other significant roads such as Plain Street and St. John's Street (Simpson, 2017).

The street was named after The Roeland family who lived in the area. Jacob Roeland (Rohland) arrived at the Cape in 1750 from Obercassel in the vessel Leyden (Pama, n.d).

(L: Roeland street sign near the intersection of Plain St. R: ETV building that can be seen even from the taxi rank which is good for asking directions to Roeland St.)

(UP: Roeland street sign near the intersection of Plain St. DOWN: ETV building that can be seen even from the taxi rank which is good for asking directions to Roeland St.)

CPUT Roeland Street Building

Minutes away from the main CPUT D6 campus is the building that was used by the Faculty of Informatics and Design and now is used by Architecture students.

The CPUT building in Roeland Street, closed on a Friday, after freedom day

(The CPUT building in Roeland Street, closed on a Friday, after freedom day)

Amazon Web Service

Since 2004, South African organizations have used AWS to support the development of their ideas, enhancing daily life for citizens and communities throughout the nation, the larger African continent, and the entire world.

With pharmaceutical dispensing devices and smart lockers, innovation is helping to better assist the 43 million South Africans who depend on public healthcare. Enabling remote learning at a scale that no one could have imagined, and even using block chain to defeat internet pirates. Your suggestions are assisting in addressing the most pressing issues on our continent and throughout the world (Amazon Web Service , n.d).

(The amazon web service office building. Credit (Staff Writer, 2018)

Roeland Street archives/prison

On the 30th of November 1989, the State Archives Service took possession of the new building specially designed to house the Cape Achieves Depot. This building was constructed on the same site formerly occupied by the Roeland Street jail. The jail construction was completed on the 14th of November 1859. The Roeland prison was not intended to house long-term prisoners. Those who were sentenced to prison terms of longer than a year were sent to convict stations in rural areas. It was intended to serve as a holding point for those awaiting trial at the Cape Supreme Court and Cape Town Magistrates Court (CCP 6/3/1/7, 1847).

(Cape Archives/Roeland prison main entrance)

Roeland Square

It was built in 1996, has a view of the city on the balcony and is 3.5 km away from Robben Island Ferry. The building offers free private parking, it also has a market close by which is convenient for tenants. According to the tenants “Being able to walk to work is a huge plus for me, and I have the MyCiti bus available if it's raining”, Grant. “Having the gym just up the road is so convenient, but it does mean I have no excuses now!” Rashiedah. “My favourite part of Roeland Square is having the coffee shop just across the courtyard. It's my secret creative space!” Sara. (Roeland Square, 2016)

(The Roeland Square hotel reception entrance)

(Traffic light before the market entrance gate bit on the right)

The Kimberley Hotel

The Kimberley Hotel is a historic hotel located in Roeland Street, Cape Town, South Africa. The hotel was originally built in 1895 and has undergone several renovations and refurbishments over the years.

This hotel is popular among seasoned travelers and vacationers alike for its prime location in downtown Cape Town. Tourists can easily explore some of the prominent destinations like the Company's Garden or check out numerous exhibits on display at the South African National Gallery; whereas professionals attending conferences at the Cape Town International Convention Centre tend to choose this establishment as their preferred accommodation (Kimberley Backpackers Hostel Cape Town, n.d).

This property offers eighty guest quarters ranging from opulent suites to elegantly furnished standard rooms equipped with modern conveniences including air conditioning systems in each room, up-to-date audio-visual equipment and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. Nestled among the vibrant streets of Cape Town lies the enchanting Kimberley Hotel - a haven for travelers seeking respite from their explorations. With its ample selection of generously-sized guest rooms and a delightful assortment of on-site amenities, including a breath-taking rooftop terrace offering unparalleled views overlooking Table Mountain and beyond, guests are treated to endless possibilities for relaxation, comfort, and adventure in equal measure (Simpson, 2017).

In conclusion, the Kimberley Hotel presents comfortable accommodations for visitors interested in exploring the numerous attractions Cape Town offers.

(The Kimberly hotel bar entrance)

79 Roeland Street

Architects, casting agencies, and a well-liked coffee/deli store are just a few of the enterprises housed in the freestanding commercial building at 79 Roeland Street. In addition to being near the MyCiti bus route and train station, the building offers fantastic office space available. There are several restaurants, shops, and coffee shops around. Additionally, Parliament and the Company Gardens are both easily accessible on foot.

(The commercial building with the gym at lower level)

City Varsity

Amongst South Africa's list of esteemed private educational institutions focused specifically on creative careers is City Varsity- found within Cape Town and Johannesburg. Through offering an array of captivating courses such as acting or journalism along with various media specializations like sound engineering or animation - this institution works towards providing first-hand experience so that its students are able to tackle any challenges thrown at them by their ever-evolving field head-on. As potential employers have come to realize over time; graduates from City varsity possess the ultimate aptitude when it comes to succeeding in even tough work environments.

(City Varsity entrance, closed on the weekend)

End of Roeland Street

This is where my Roeland street tour ends. There are many other buildings that were not mentioned and this is your chance to visit them and look at them from your own perspective. Those who like to spend their time reading can visit The Book Lounge. Visit the Fire station near the CPUT building and ask for a tour on their museum which is very informative by the way. Go to the St. Mary's Cathedral near the intersection of St John’s St.

(The Book Lounge entrance)

(Botha’s statue at intersection of Roeland St, Plain St and St John’s St.)

Credit, huge thank you to Tshegofatso Tlhakudi for helping along with the pictures!

References

Amazon Web Service , n.d. The AWS Africa (Cape Town) Region. [Online] Available at: https://aws.amazon.com/local/africa/cape-town/ [Accessed 30 April 2023].

CCP 6/3/1/7, 1847. Ordinance 24. In: unknown, ed. CCP 6/3/1/7. unknown: unknown, pp. 293-299.

Kimberley Backpackers Hostel Cape Town, n.d. Kimberley Backpackers Hostel Cape Town. [Online] Available at: http://kimbo-lodge-backpackers.capetownhotelsearch.com/en/ [Accessed 30 April 2023].

Pama, D. V. C., n.d. Genealogies of Old South African Families. Genealogies of Old South African Families, 2(139), p. 784 and AL657.

Roeland Square, 2016. Roeland Square. [Online] Available at: https://www.roelandsquare.co.za/ [Accessed 30 April 2023].

Simpson, S., 2017. The Ghosts of Roeland Street. [Online] Available at: https://medium.com/the-tempestuous-times/the-ghosts-of-roeland-street-f681b6c1db4f#:~:text=Roeland%20Street%20is%20the,to%20use%20the%20Roeland%20St. [Accessed 30 April 2023].

Staff Writer, 2018. Business Tech. [Online] Available at: https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/227745/a-first-look-at-amazons-new-offices-in-cape-town/ [Accessed 30 April 2023].