Tuynhuys

The Tuynhuys in Cape Town

The Tuynhuys ( German : Garden House ) in Cape Town is next to the Union Buildings in Pretoria the official residence of the South African President . The house is located between the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa and the President's Council in the Company's Garden. It has been the seat of the country's highest political authority for more than 250 years and has been the residence of most of the Dutch , Batavian and British administrators and governors of the Cape Colony . South Africa's prime ministers and presidents have resided here since 1961.

history

Inauguration of the first parliament on the Cape by Governor George Edward Gray in 1854

The Tuynhuys was built in 1674 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a tool shed for the Compagnies Tuyn (Company's Garden), which Jan van Riebeeck laid out in 1652 . The conversion to a guest house was carried out by Governor Simon van der Stel from 1682 onwards . Renovations and extensions took place until 1751. From this point on, the governors used the house as a summer residence, so that from 1790 it became known as "Het Governiurs Huys in de Compagnies Tuyn" (The governor's house in the company garden). After the second British occupation in 1806 it was named "Government House". Governor Lord Charles Somerset added a ballroom, staircase and chimneys to the house on either side. The house should also serve as a guest house for the royal family . In 1947, King George VI lived on their trip to South Africa . , Queen Elisabeth , Princess Elisabeth and Princess Margaret at Government House. Under the architect Gabriel Fagan, the house was given its 18th century appearance back in 1968. It has had its current name since 1972. It is not open to the public.

Special events

1854 was the first parliament in the Cape by Governor in Tuynhuys George Edward Gray opened
In 1947 the British royal family lived in the house
On March 18, 1992, President Frederik Willem de Klerk announced the end of apartheid there

Web links

Commons : Tuynhuys - collection of images, videos and audio files

The Tuynhuys on the website of the President (English)

Individual evidence

↑ A Good Day in Cape Town - The South African Royal Family's 1947 visit to “Die Moederstad” . In: Andrew Cusack . Retrieved January 28, 2014.

-33.9275 18.418333333333Coordinates: 33 ° 55 ′ 39 ″ S , 18 ° 25 ′ 6 ″ E

[history-1] A Good Day in Cape Town - The South African Royal Family's 1947 visit to “Die Moederstad” . In: Andrew Cusack . Retrieved January 28, 2014.