The Nicolaas Cleef House is a rare remaining example (albeit partly reconstructed) of a pioneer building dating to the late 17th or early 18th Century, within a landscape setting that has remained sufficiently intact to provide a unique view of early colonial settlement of the Cape Winelands, it marks a specific moment in the evolution of the Cape Winelands cultural landscape. It is a unique example of a Cape vernacular longhouse, a simple thatched cottage that was constructed by early colonial settlers. It’s setting forms an important part of its significance in that it has relatively unmarred views over the Blouklip River which provide a rare opportunity to experience the landscape as it could have been more than a century ago. It is an important element of a Cape farm werf that has evolved over time, with quality buildings representing key architectural periods in the development of South African architecture since colonial occupation. The building contributes to our understanding of the history of human occupation in the local context, from the early colonial occupation of the Eerste River Valley. Each owner owned slaves, who all contributed to the evolution of the farm and the building. Later, the building was occupied by freed slaves and farm workers. The building housed some form of labour (slaves, so-called apprentices and farm workers) from its inception over a period of three centuries. This continuity of use seems to be very rare, at least in the local context. This building is a rare structure containing very old fabric and is at present the only known example of a fully restored pioneer cottage in the Cape Winelands, if not further afield.
