Company's Garden

Company's Garden is a public park in the centre of Cape Town, South Africa, running along Queen Victoria Street at the upper end of Adderley Street and surrounded by the Houses of Parliament, St George's Cathedral and several museums. It was laid out from 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck on the orders of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to grow vegetables, fruit and herbs for scurvy-ridden crews on the route between Europe and Asia. This supply station became the nucleus of the Cape settlement. In the 18th century the garden grew into an ornamental and botanical collection, and the slave-built walls, avenues and irrigation formed its early structure. Under the British and later governments, the garden was converted from a farm to a public park, and the main oak-lined avenue was established. Surviving features include the Rose Garden, the Pear Tree planted in the 17th century, a rare heritage specimen, the Delville Wood Memorial, the statue of Cecil Rhodes, a sundial, and the old Slave Bell associated with the VOC's enslaved workers. Several attractions sit around the garden, including the South African Museum, the National Gallery, the Planetarium and the Holocaust Centre nearby. The garden has an aviary, a tea garden and a famed population of squirrels. The interpretation is informal, with signage, a historical garden trail and statuary, and visitors can walk at leisure. The Pear Tree and the 18th-century slave lodge outline convey the story of colonisation and slavery. Maintenance is carried out by the City of Cape Town, which has replanted beds and repaired paths while retaining the historic layout. Entrance is free, and the park is a convenient base for a walking tour of the city's heritage and museums.