In 1741, the Dutch East India company decided to
move their anchorage from Table Bay, where ships were constantly
battered by the winter storms, to the calmer waters of Simon's Bay.
The move was not without its problems however because they now had
a 4 day trek overland to Cape Town for supplies.
To overcome this problem, the then commissioner
of the Cape, Baron Gustav Wilhelm van Imhoff, ordered construction
of the Simon's Bay refreshment station in 1743, which included the
cultivation of land in the Fish Hoek and Noordhoek valley to
provide fresh produce. Baron van Imhoff soon realised that he was
not alone in trying to alleviate the problem of supplying ships and
learned that the widow, Christina Rousseau, was also supplying
produce from her farm Zwaaswiede. He was so impressed by her
efforts that he gifted her some land along Slangkop ridge which
then became know as "Imhoff's Gift".
In 1903 a portion of the land was proclaimed for
the town of Kommetjie, and in 1967 another portion of the farm was
expropriated by the then apartheid government, to form the township
of Ocean View. In 2003 a large portion of the wetlands, between the
vlei and Longbeach, was transferred to the Table Mountain National
Park by present owners (since 1912), the Van Der Horst family.
Today, livestock and dairy farming of the past
is no longer viable. Hand made cheeses and free range products are
still produced and many of the original buildings including the
homestead, slave quarters, stables and milking sheds are now
occupied by local artists, crafts people and eateries. The farm
also boasts one of the last intact wheat threshing floors, built in
the traditional walled circular shape. The other being at Mostert's
Mill.
To find the cache,
Start at S34° 08.550 E018° 21.061 where you will
find a signpost. The number of signs on the post =
A
At S34° 08.544 E018° 21.042 is a rather unique
wood carving. The number of faces carved into the wood =
B
A few meters to the South West is an Earth
Bench, and on the sign above it there is a number ending in
CD28
Next, cross the courtyard, were you will find an
old form of transportation. The number of spokes in one wheel =
E
Now make your way to S34° 08.584 E018° 21.087
where you will find an old farming implement. Using alphanumeric
substitution, the first two letters of the Make =
FG
The final location is...
S34° 08.(A-B)(F-G)(E-A) E018°
21.D(F-B)(F+G-C)