HERITAGE VILLAGE

     


De Poort Heritage Centre

De Poort is a catalyst - bringing a divided community together via a shared heritage.

     

 • H O M E • 

 De Poort Heritage Centre opens 2009

F R I E N D S  O F  D E  P O O R T

THE CARTWHEEL - newsletter

CONTACT DETAILS  •  EMAIL  •  DIRECTIONS


De Poort: new home of the Wamakersmuseum

Today as we prepare to open phase 1 of De Poort, we are more sure than ever of our founding vision: that we can bring people together through a shared heritage. We have already started work on phase 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


DOWNLOAD De Poort Master Plan.pdf


TABAK STREET AND THE RUN-DOWN STATION PRECINCT


PAARL'S HISTORIC WAGON COLLECTION


THE HEYDAY OF THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY 1875-95


TRADITIONAL TRADES WE WANT TO SHOWCASE - THE WHEELWRIGHT, FARRIER, BLACKSMITH, BASKET WEAVER, LEATHER WORKER, AND MANY MORE...

 

 


BRINGING THE PAST TO LIFE IS FUN, BRINGS US TOGETHER, AND CREATES JOBS FOR OUR PEOPLE





WORK BEGAN ON SITE IN JULY 2007

  

 

The Vision for De Poort

The idea for De Poort came about as a result of a public meeting held in July 1998 to discuss a Structure Plan for Southern Paarl – in particular the future of a portion of open ground owned by the municipality. The public meeting recognised the strategic position of the site – close to Paarl station ( 300meters) and the N1 ( less than a kilometer). It had beautiful views, mature trees and Victorian-era buildings in the vicinity.

Key issues that emerged:

  • Any development in Suider Paarl on the open site has to be sustainable.
  • Any development will only succeed if there is overall community buy in. It has to address the escalating issue of poverty. Over 30% of the population is unemployed and the number doubles if seasonal employment is added to the mix.
  • Any development has therefore to lead to economic development which benefits the community as a whole.
  • Suider Paarl where the open site is positioned needs urgent urban renewal especially in the historic station precinct.
The second opportunity which sparked the De Poort project was a series of public meetings on the fate of the collection of wagons, carts and tools stored in a shed in Groenvlei, Northern Paarl. Of the 20 vehicles there, 5 were owned by Paarl Museum. The public again refused any thought of a sale of these artefacts which came from the time when this area was the centre of the transport industry.

With a desire to recognise a forgotten heritage which had belonged to all communities in Drakenstein, a series of public participation meetings were held in early 2000. A Task Team was convened to bring representatives of business, tourism, RDP, municipality, heritage and community organisations together to focus on ideas and suggest a way forward.

Over 9 months it was agreed to establish a community project with the following founding principles:
  • That the project should form part of heritage tourism which had been shown worldwide as the fastest growing area of tourism, attracting 1 in 4 of all visitors to a country. They tended to stay longer and spend more, such tourists were mainly young families, senior citizens, educational groups and heritage enthusiasts.
  • That the project had to be community driven, based and owned.
  • That local government (district and municipal) should be partners in the venture.
  • That the venture had to be interactive and alive and not another “dead museum”.
  • That priority in job and business opportunities would be given to local people.
  • That there should be as many entrepreneurial /craft opportunities as possible in the design and operation of the venue.
  • That the heritage should be inclusive, especially of the PDI and Historically Disadvantaged.
  • That the venue had to be open year round.
  • That the venue should not compete with other tourism outlets but form linkages and act as a catalyst.
  • That the development should be phased.
The Vision agreed on would preserve the industrial heritage of the carriage makers - carpenters, blacksmiths, metalworkers, upholsterers, painters, leatherworkers, drivers, grooms, farriers, etc. The project would seek to be a catalyst bringing a divided community together via a shared heritage. It would seek to facilitate artisan crafters and entrepreneurs. It would hope to have the effect noted in exemplars overseas of being an economic multiplier for the municipality and district.

From vision to reality

By March 2001, a Section 21( not for gain) company was registered and named the De Poort Village Project. The name De Poort reminds the visitor and local that Southern Paarl was once known as “The Gate” ( before the evictions of 1960’s) and that the town is the Gateway to the North. The first and all subsequent Boards were all volunteers who gave much of their time to the Project. They had three major areas to activate:

  • Research into the history of the Wagon/Cart industry (which would be the Theme of the Village); tourism trends and needs; socio economic needs in the community.
  • The Project had to secure the land and the collection ( both in municipal hands)
  • The Project had to source funds.

De Poort in its forward planning has debated and considered at length how it will become sustainable not only for itself, but also for the service providers and crafter/artisans. Gate takings, leases of craft outlets and work areas( ultimately other premises, arena, training facility/seminar room and shops) will be used to fund the operational costs of De Poort. Other areas will be open for occupational rights by investors thereby financing new buildings. Such buildings will be required to conform to our architect’s guidelines or use her services. Certain venues will be for hire ( arena, seminar area, later the theatre etc.) We will also continue to seek grant and donor funding or sponsorships to continue development of a unique heritage village - a first in South Africa!

In designing the village, our architect was given a huge brief. The site had to remain as open as possible so as to take advantage of the view, keep the rural feel and comply with the wishes of heritage organisations and environmental legislation.

At the very least we needed a place to house the heritage collection; arena or village common; schoolroom, cart track for cart rides, theatre, area for informal traders using barrows; craft workshops and outlets; a restaurant; space for heritage games.

The Master Plan ( funded by a grant from Cape Winelands District Municipality) was completed but will no doubt be subject to much change over time. This envisages 5 separate phases of development - each affording the next.

 

HOME   |   COMMUNITY PROJECT   |   FAMILY FRIENDLY VENUE   |   ACTIVITIES & EVENTS  |  DOWNLOAD THE CART WHEEL   |  FRIENDS OF DE POORT

CONTACT DETAILS   |   LOCATION MAP   |   FAQ - DE POORT IN A NUTSHELL  |  WEEKEND CRAFT & PRODUCE MARKET   |   DONATIONS   |  CRAFT TRAINING   |  JOBS & TENDERS