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History

Exploring the Rich Heritage of Upper Trovato

The suburb of Upper Trovato in Wynberg, Cape Town, has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. Trovato House, after which the suburb is named, was built by Carl Jeppe in 1899, although he couldn't occupy it until then due to being detained during the Boer War. After Jeppe's ownership, the house changed hands multiple times, serving various purposes over the years.

During the First World War, Trovato House functioned as a convalescent home for wounded soldiers, accommodating 83 men in 14 wards. Post-war, it was purchased by Walter Marshall, who later sold it to Charles Powell in 1953. Powell's tenure saw the property supplying fresh produce to the Union Castle shipping line.

In the 1980s, the surrounding farm of 40 hectares was developed, and the property transitioned into a rehabilitation center for drug and alcohol addiction. In 1995, it was acquired by Forever Living Products, who restored much of the building and repurposed it as offices.

Trovato House is an exemplar of the neo-classical arts and crafts style, popularized by Sir Herbert Baker in South Africa. The original wallpapers and furniture reflect the aesthetics of the arts and crafts period, emphasizing natural elements and neo-classical motifs.

Cleaning trees for cultivation, Trovato (circa 1950)

Trovato (circa 1960)

The development of the area also includes the naming of streets within Trovato Estate, with Visser Avenue named after Johanna Salmina Visser, and Stuartfield Avenue deriving its name from John Steuart, Chief Magistrate of the Cape, who built a Victorian mansion called Braeside in 1856, with adjacent grounds known as Steuartfield that was later added to the Trovato estate.

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