HERITAGE VILLAGE
Photo courtesy of Paarl
Post
Frances Graves, chairperson of De Poort Heritage Village with a display of vehicles and tools used in the bye-gone era of the wagon-makers. These unique artefacts are being brought to life again for the benefit of tourists and local people.
De
Poort: new
home of the Wamakersmuseum
The vision for De Poort's phased development has evolved from close consultation with local people and from observing the success of heritage centres like Sovereign Hill at Ballarat in Australia. Our aim is to grow over time and to sow the seeds for a sustainable community enterprise, celebrating a common heritage.
DOWNLOAD
De Poort Master Plan.pdf
Construction
of Phase 1 started July 2007
De
Poort: a multi-purpose facility
INTERACTIVE
WORKSHOPS
DAILY CART RIDES
BARROW MARKET
Phase 1 - our Heritage Centre.
Final preparations for opening of De Poort Heritage Centre are underway. Designed as a living museum, this multi-purpose facility features craft workshops, barrow market, conference facilities, cafe and a unique collection of artefacts from the era of the wagon industry.
This will be a living history experience with interactive activities, artisans at work and opportunities for the visitor to sample life during the boom period of the late 19th century - a time when our beautiful Drakenstein valley was the centre of the animal-drawn transport industry.
Right from the start - there will be something for everyone:
•
For the Visitor -a place of fun and entertainment for the whole family.
• For the
Community, an opportunity to come together and celebrate the talents and
skills of our forefathers and mothers.
• For the
Craftsperson and Stallkeeper - a place to demonstrate your skills and
to supply or sell authentic handmade crafts and local produce appropriate
to the period ( from leather to embroidery; from jewelery to hinges; from
wooden toys to baked goods; organic fruit and traditional sweets; cooperage
and blacksmith skills).
•
Phase 1 encompasses the factory “workshop”, craft bays, the arena, the
outdoor barrow market and heritage games areas. The mezzanine level of
the “workshop” will have the seminar room and space for more cubicles
and display.
• Outside,
visitors will enjoy cart rides, a craft and organic produce market, picnics,
heritage music and games.
• Visitors will be able to re-live an era when carts and horses provided daily transport for people, good and equipment. We encourage visitors to pinpoint on our display map the original manufacturing workshops of this early transport industry.
• Interactive workshops and displays - celebrate the skills and craftmanship of our valley.
Finally after seven years of hard work this unique communityproject will come to life - a fun place for the whole family with activities and events throughout the year.
Support the development of our valley - Get aboard today!
•
The Project has enjoyed support from many sources. First was Paarl Tourism
which saw the need to attract more people to visiting the town.
• The Provincial
department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism then granted funds for
the feasibility study, marketing plan and business plan.
• Drakenstein
Municipality agreed to lease the land for 25 years (renewable for 25 years)
at nominal rental. It also cancelled plans for the boulevard extension.
It agreed that its collection of heritage vehicles and artefacts should
be transferred to De Poort for curator ship once suitable quarters had
been built on site.
• Cape Winelands
District Municipality granted R1million over 4 years to kick start the
project; for concept and SMME development; for architectural master Plan
and Engineering drawings.(2003-7).
• The National
Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund has made two grants totalling R4,689,699
for construction of phase 1.
• The Paarl
Heemkring made its archive of photos available to help promote the project.
• Paarl Museum
agreed to its wagons and a unique collection of wagon makers tools being
part of the display at De Poort and to support restoration work.
• Along the
way many well-wishers made donations in kind or of time e.g. cobble-paving,
cutlery and crockery, office equipment, etc.
Now we invite you to get aboard - there are many ways in which
you can support
us and participate in the project.
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