Bishopscourt, Cape Town

Bishopscourt at a glance

Set against the slopes of Table Mountain and surrounded by lush vegetation, gracious oak tree-lined avenues, and sweeping panoramic vistas lies the idyllically located, pristine suburb of Bishopscourt.

According to archives, Bishopscourt originated in 1651 when the Dutch East India Company (VOC) decided to establish a halfway house at the Cape which was on their sea route from Holland to the East.

Jan van Riebeeck, who was first appointed to command the settlement, detailed much of the area's beginnings in his journal. From his description of the Liesbeek River, first referred to as 'Soete Rivier' (fresh or sweet river), which remains the historical heart of Bishopscourt, to his farming and infrastructure efforts which include the hedge of wild almond trees still in existence at Kirstenbosch Gardens today, van Riebeek did much to convert the fertile area into a hub that served the VOC's interests.

After his departure in 1662, the burnt-down farmhouse was later rebuilt and enlarged into a British Colonial-style homestead. In 1851 the Colonial Bishoprics Fund of the Anglican Church bought the farm, named it Bishopscourt and allocated the house as the headquarters for the Anglican Bishop of Cape Town, which it still is today. It was here that Nelson Mandela, hosted by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, spent his first night of freedom after 27 years of imprisonment. The following day Mandela hosted a press conference at the estate's garden, before acquiring his own home within this exclusive residential enclave years later.

Today, the small, prestigious suburb includes world-class ambassadorial properties owned by the British High Commissioner and the US ambassador, as well as luxurious homes for business executives, families, and other distinguished local and international personalities.

Consisting of only a few hundred properties, Bishopscourt is an easily accessible suburb, that offers excellent connectivity to Cape Town's Central Business District, Cape Town International Airport, and various surrounding areas. Much of the population in Bishopscourt consists of families who are attracted to the proximity to prestigious schools namely Bishops Diocesan College, The International School of Cape Town, and SACS as well as a variety of nearby shops and amenities.

Described as a safe haven because of the high level of security presence for its embassies and ambassadorial residences, the suburb also has only a few entry and exit points. Home to a strong and active resident's association that recently banded together to rehabilitate and transform a section of the Liesbeeck river into an enchanting riverine, Bishopscourt offers a wide variety of properties that range from older, more traditional style homes to newly built, contemporary villas.

With unbeatable mountain views, agriculturally zoned erven and limitless potential, it is quite evident as to why this suburb is home to an elite group of both local and international residents.