Mostert's Mill

Mostert's Mill is a windmill in Mowbray with a white stone and brick tower reaching about 6 meters tall and topped with a rotating thatched roof. The structure displays the classic design of such buildings with four sails and internal stone grinding mechanisms.

The structure was built in 1796 on Welgelegen Farm and was the first privately operated mill in Cape Colony following the end of Dutch control. It thus marks a turning point in local economic history of that period.

The mill displays traditional Dutch building methods through its four sails and stone grinding mechanisms that visitors can watch in operation. The way it was built tells the story of the craftspeople who created such structures.

The site is opened to visitors on the third Saturday of each month with limited visiting hours managed by the Friends of Mostert's Mill organization. It is useful to check ahead for planned opening times and how to reach the location.

After a fire, the mill was fully restored in 2024 and operates again. It remains the only functioning structure of its kind south of the Sahara on the African continent.

Location: Cape Town

Inception: 1796

GPS coordinates: -33.95211,18.46617

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:06