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Oatlands Cottage Simonstown, Western Cape

Date: late C.18 Client: Brand Type: Cottage Style: Cape Vernacular Status: Extant

Formerly known as Commandant's House. This house, built towards the end of the C18, is located on a piece of land known as 'Groot Tuin' [Large Garden], probably built by the then owner Brand for overflow naval guests when Simon's Town served as the winter base for the Dutch East India Company in accordance with Baron van Imhoff's plan. During the First British Occupation (1795-1802) the property was requisitioned and in 1996 to 1797 it was leased to Donald Trail who rehabilitated the then ruinous structure. With the Second British occupation in 1806 the property was requisitioned by the military authorities, who yet again rehabilitated it and occupied it for 25 years, acting as the official residence of the Commandant of the town garrison. [See Alberts 1993:108 for further details]. Books that reference Oatlands Cottage Alberts, Paul. 1992. South African military buildings photographed : an historical heritage. Cape Town: The Gallery Press. pg 108, 109 ill