Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Century-old gems in Rondebosch’s leafy estates are soaring in value
CONTINUALLY in demand, Rondebosch property has experienced impressive increases in average selling prices of homes during the past year particularly, says Mike Greeff, chief executive of Greeff Properties an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate.
“Propstats figures for the sale of double-storey homes during the past 12 months indicate a 39 percent growth in the average selling price,” says Greeff. “The highest recorded sale was for R12.95 million, paid for an 85-year-old five-bedroom, double-storey home with four reception rooms, a study, three garages and a pool.
“The average selling price for Rondebosch during the past 12 months for double- storey homes was R6 584 188. This was on average 5.8 percent below the listed prices and properties were listed for an average 61 days.”
Greeff says most homes in Rondebosch date back to the earlier 20th century and some were built in the 19th century.
Greeff Properties is marketi ng Lothian House, a wellmaintained vintage home built in 1894 by John Jenkinson for his family. Having first built Arundel in Bonair Road, Jenkinson is remembered as a major roleplayer in the development of Bonair/ Silwood estate. Originally a carpenter with a workshop in Rouwkoop Road, he built many of the Victorian houses in the area.
According to Esmé Bull in The History of Bonair/Silwood Estate: 1792 to 1910 all of Jenkinson’s houses were solidly built with shuttered sash windows and slate roofs and he used imported components such as steel ceilings, marble or slate fireplaces, and encaustic floor tiles for halls and bathrooms.
Greeff says Lothian house in Silwood Road, just across the road from Bishops, is a fine example of Jenkinson’s work.
The house on a 2 700m² erf has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Features include high pressed ceilings, original moulded cornices, solid wood floors, bay and sash windows, original Victorian fireplaces, dado rails, architraves and fanlights, as well as lead-paned windows and distinctive chimney stacks. Modern features include solar heated swimming pool, tennis court, gazebo, water feature, irrigation and bore hole. The property also has staff accommodation, a double garage and off-street parking for six to eight cars. The listing price is R17.5m.
“The suburb has top schools on its doorstep. In spite of experts predicting a levelling off of price increases, the demand in Rondebosch is not likely to subside, and this will serve to ensure that property values keep growing. Even if the pace slows temporarily, prices are likely to continue rising,” says Greeff.