De Waal Street is a small cul-de-sac used mostly for access towards the residences and parking. Although not many people notice it, it has a rich history.
Denneoord college moves
The writer Annie Hofmeyr was 90 years old when she wrote a book about Van Riebeeckstraat Stellenbosch - Noordekant (1990). One of the stories in her book describes how the ladies of Denneoord kollege moved from Church street to a house in town.
(I translated her text loosely from Afrikaans):
Can there be a procession in Van Riebeeck Street? It would seem somewhat strange, but in fact it really happened in 1934. The students of the Denneoord Training college walked from their old college building in Church Street (each with her own chair under the arm) down in Drostdy street and around the corner to Van Riebeeck Street. The sidewalk wasn't paved yet and the students walked on the dusty, uneven ground. The atmosphere is festive; the students are happy to take leave of the old Bloemhof building. They don't have a brand new building waiting for them, but nonetheless a lofty, stately townhouse. It is the start of a new era for Adriaan de Waal's house.
Who was Adriaan de Waal?
Adriaan De Waal was a well-to-do businessman who farmed on Langverwacht (towards Kuilsriver), but in 1902 relocated to a plot of land in Van Riebeeckstraat. Adriaan De Waal and his wife built a large villa, late-Victorian in character with a large garden surrounding it, where he stayed until his death in 1921.
After his passing away, the house (also known as Rosenhof or Rosenburg) came under the auspices of the Educational Trustees for the School District of Stellenbosch, and was utilised to house the Denneoord College.
Rosenhof becomes a school
The Rosenhof villa was large enough to house the small 'modelskool' (the forerunner of Stellenbosch primary school) as well as all the classrooms for the teachers-in-training. The school was originally held in the main bedroom, but later moved outside as the 'plaasskooltjie'.
There were five very large rooms which would serve as classrooms. I refer only to the main bedroom, of which I have already made mention. In this room the little practice school was accommodated, and here the children of standards 2 to 6 would give their first steps in the world of education. At the head of this school was miss Anna Gelderblom (now Mrs. Albertyn), whose former students still think of with great appreciation [...]
Little would Oom Adriaan know that there would come a time when his stables would serve as two kindergarten classrooms! It was a merry event in 1938 when the Education department constructed the new Modelplaasskooltjie at the northern end of the plot! The school had to make do without resources such as encyclopedias, childrens magazines, etc. As small as the children where, they learned how to look for the necessary information .
Rosenhof is demolished
In 1964 the College moved once again, to the new buildings on the so-called Koloniesland - with other words where Boland College is today.
At last the day arrive in 1964 when another procession was seen in Van Riebeeckstreet, the College students walking in an eastwardly direction. This time they didn't walk far. Only a short distance along Van Riebeeck street and then across the road, towards the beautiful modern buildings of the 'Opleidingskollege Denneoord' where they would now start going to class [...]
Unfortunately the original house doesn't exist any more.
In 1969 the old De Waal home was demolished and the land used to build the university residence, Nerina. The De Waal house was on a corner plot with De Waal Street at its eastern side.
Many houses in Van Riebeeck Street were in fact demolished to create space for the Heemstede and Nerina lawns.
Close to De Waal Street is the small Claassens street, telling the story of the Classens family. The well known lecturer G.G. Cilliers, and his neighbour Paul Roos also lived in Van Riebeeckstraat.
Article: Y Coetsee 2017
Sources: Van Riebeeckstraat Stellenbosch (Noordekant) (1990) A Hofmeyr.
http://laerskoolstellenbosch.co.za/geskiedenis/