The historical Oude Postkantoor on the corner of Bird and Plein Street in Stellenbosch re-opened as a commercial space in February 2021 following renovations.
This was according to Bertus Swanepoel, the project lead from Remey Property Group.
“The Oude Postkantoor is situated in the heritage protection overlay zone,” stated Lauren Buchanan, chairperson of Stellenbosch Heritage Foundation, in email correspondence with MatieMedia.
“The building operated as a post office from 1938 until 2018,” Swanepoel told MatieMedia through email correspondence.
Oude Postkantoor on the corner of Bird and Plein street now houses Post and Pepper Restaurant and other businesses and has been renovated to preserve its architecture and its history. PHOTO: Micaleb Lawrence
According to Buchanan, buildings older than 60 years are classified as heritage sites and “the standard application for buildings in the Stellenbosch Overlay Zone and buildings older than 60 years was followed” for the approval of renovations for Oude Postkantoor.
Approvals to get heritage sites renovated “can take from 3 months to one year and longer, depending on site visits by Heritage Western Cape and appeals”, explained Raymond Bouma, a committee member of Stellenbosch Heritage Foundation.
“Remey Property Group was the company that planned and managed the redevelopment and Remey Construction was the contractor that did the construction,” stated Swanepoel. He added that Piet Dekker was the architect for the upgrade of Oude Postkantoor.
The Stellenbosch Heritage Foundation adheres to the National Heritage Resources Act. This is according to the foundation’s terms of reference provided to MatieMedia by Buchanan through email correspondence. The Act allows the foundation to retain Oude Postkantoor as a heritage site following the renovations for the building.
The businesses that are now located in Oude Postkantoor include Seattle Coffee Co, Gary Rom Man Signature Barber and Post and Pepper Restaurant.
The newly upgraded interior of Post and Pepper Restaurant still has the original arches and old Cape Dutch style architecture of Oude Postkantoor. PHOTO: Micaleb Lawrence
Celebrating the old
The building’s history dates back to the early 1800’s with architecture and unique arches to “celebrate the old”, said chef, owner and director of Post and Pepper Restaurant, Jessica van Dyk.
An integrated connection between Oude Postkantoor and its newly renovated restaurant space for Post and Pepper still exists, which allows the building to “maintain relationships” with the Stellenbosch community, suppliers of Post and Pepper and the heritage of Oude Postkantoor, explained van Dyk.
Despite renovations, the building maintains its “timeless charm”, added Van Dyk.
Chef, owner and director of Post and Pepper, Jessica van Dyk, is one of the business owners at the newly renovated Oude Postkantoor. PHOTO: Supplied/ Jessica van Dyk