Wagenaars Reservoir

When Van Riebeek arrived at the Cape he had a dam built, but this did not satisfy the needs of the settlers and the passing ships. In 1663. The Here XVII, or Board of Directors of the Dutch East India Company instructed Zacharias Wagenaer, the only German Governor of the Company, to build a reservoir to improve the water supply. The reservoir was known as the Wagenaars Reservoir. It was made of stone and brick and was placed on the course of the Vars River. The reservoir was 45 x 15m. and was about 1m. deep.

Slaves would roll oak barrels to the reservoir, have them filled, and return to the docks where they would be hooked to the crane, and lowered onto little rowing boats. The water barrels were rowed out to the ships. A canal was built in 1671 from the reservoir to the quay.

During the construction of “The Golden Acre” shopping Mall in 1975, ruins of the reservoir and canals were unearthed. They have been declared as a national monument. The ruins can be seen at the Golden Acre and are protected behind a glass window.

9 Adderley Street, Foreshore