1680
Stellenbosch settlement founded
Early farming settlement developed along the Eerste River after Simon van der Stel named the valley Stellenbosch in 1679.
View in timelineIn 1679, Simon van der Stel and his party reached the fertile Eerste River valley and named it Stellenbosch. Farming activity followed, and by 1680 settlers were establishing farms in the district on land used by Khoikhoi pastoral communities. The later village is commonly dated to 1685, so this event is best understood as the beginning of the settlement and farming district rather than the completed town.
Significance
The settlement extended Company-backed farming beyond the Cape Peninsula and became a major agricultural district.
Why it matters
The settlement extended Company-backed farming beyond the Cape Peninsula and became a major agricultural district.
Disputed interpretations
The chronology distinguishes Van der Stel’s naming of the valley and first farming activity in 1679–1680 from the later foundation of a formal village, often dated to 1685.