It is a remarkable, perhaps surprising, fact, says Bill Rawson, Chairman of the Rawson Property Group, that Greater Cape Town’s Victorian homes are today more popular than ever before – and, he adds, there is a surprising number of such homes, many still in very good condition, throughout Cape Town and its surroundings.
“At present we have about 12 genuine Victorian homes for sale in the Greater Cape Town area,” says Rawson.
The features that make such homes appealing, says Rawson, are sometimes misunderstood and this leads to confusion between Victorian, Edwardian and Cape Dutch homes. However, a genuine Victorian home would probably have a large verandah, possibly with broekie lace wrought iron decorations, large rooms throughout the interior, separate dining, living and entrance rooms, solid wood doors and floors (sometimes made of yellowwood), vertical sliding sash windows, high ceilings (in some cases made of pressed metal stamped to take on attractive patterns), ornamental Victorian tiling on patios and certain outdoor areas, cast iron fireplaces, brass door handles and hanging chandeliers, side wall light brackets, a staircase with ornate wooden or wrought iron balustrading, stained glass inlays in doors and partitions, a large kitchen (sometimes still using a coal or wood fired stove) and usually with a separate scullery and laundry, ample servants’ quarters, a fountain and fishpond in the garden and generous garage and storage space, possibly created from former stables and carriage house.
Such homes, says Rawson, tend to have been well cared for because they have always been appreciated and usually sell in a price range of R2,5 million to R6 million.
“They appreciate very steadily in value and there is always a long list of potential buyers for them.”
