The history of Mitchell’s Plain – A Timeline

Although only officially opened in April 1976, the seeds of what would later become Mitchell’s Plain have already been sown at least two decades before.

According to a 1985 information pamphlet by the City Engineers Department, from 1950 to 1960 surveys on income in the Cape Town City Council’s Housing Estates were undertaken.

In the decade thereafter – 1960 to 1970 – the need for homeownership was established.

The next six years saw the establishment of one of the most ambitious new town developments in the world take shape.

Timeline

1971 – The government gave the Cape City Council the green light to go ahead with the planning of Michell’s Plain

1974 – The decision is taken in November 1974 to start on the first phase of Mitchell’s Plain

According to the pamphlet, the name Mitchell’s Plain (Mitchell's Plein in Afrikaans) çomes from a farmer who named the land. Another theory is that the area was named after Major Charles Cornwallis Michell, the first surveyor-general at the Cape. 

1975 – Construction started in Westridge

1976  – Mitchell’s Plain was officially opened in April 1976. The first residents arrived in Westridge.

1977  – The second suburb, Portland was started 

1978 – The sales company, Mitchells Plain (sic) Housing Sales was formed. By now 300 families were moving in per month, and Portland and Strandfontein were growing fast.

1979  –  The 10 000th family moved into Mitchell’s Plain

1980  –  July 1980, the opening of the railway line. Development of Rocklands, Lentegeur and Portland continues. Now completed were Strandfontein, Westridge and Woodlands (Woodlands was developed by the Divisional Council). December 1980 marked the opening of the Town Centre.

1981  –  Building of 800 houses per month

1982  – The beginning of rented housing to the east of the railway line.

1983  –  The end of massive contracts but the start of private sector development.