Imagine Catharina Ustings Ras standing right where you are. She likely never envisioned Lower Steenberg as it is today. Lower Steenberg is part of the Steenberg Estate. It has evolved dramatically since its establishment in 1682.
Steenberg Estate began as a simple farm. It was granted to Catharina Ustings Ras in 1688. She was a German immigrant. Simon van der Stel, the Governor of the Cape, gave her permission to cultivate the land. Catharina arrived a mere ten years after Jan van Riebeeck.
Life wasn’t easy for Catharina. She was a lone widow. She was only twenty-two. The Cape was a wild place. She quickly married Hans Ras. He owned a house on the Liesbeek River.
Dramatic events marked Catharina’s life. On her wedding day, a wagon race led to a fight. Her new husband was stabbed. He survived. Later, a lion killed him. Legend says Catharina hunted down and shot the lion.
Catharina married five times. In 1682, she asked Simon van der Stel for land. He leased her 25 Morgen. This land was at the foot of the Ou Kaapse Weg. In 1688, she received the title deed. It allowed her to cultivate, plough, sow, and possess the farm. This farm became known as Steenberg.
Originally, the farm was called Swaaneweide. That name meant “The Feeding Place of Swans.” Catharina mistook the local spur-winged geese for swans.
In 1695, Frederik Russouw bought the farm. He built the U-shaped house. He also made the first wines at Swaaneweide.
Later, the Dutch East India Company made Simon’s Bay a winter port. Swaaneweide was a day’s journey from both Table Bay and Simon’s Bay. This meant travelers often stayed overnight at the farm. Christina Diemer, Russouw’s widow, profited from this. She supplied hospitality and provisions.
The Russouw family owned the farm until 1842. Then, Johannes Adrian Louw bought it. The Louw family kept it for 150 years. In 1990, Johannesburg Consolidated Investments (JCI) purchased it. They redeveloped it into a hotel, vineyard, and golf course.
Graham Beck bought Steenberg Hotel and Steenberg Winery in 2005. Steenberg Hotel became a luxury destination. It features restaurants, an award-winning winery, and a golf course.
Today, Steenberg stands as a testament to Catharina’s resilience. From a wild, untamed land to a luxury estate, Lower Steenberg embodies a rich history. It is a blend of perseverance and transformation. The mountain of stone watches over a legacy forged in both hardship and triumph.