Observatory, Cape Town

Observatory
Top: One of the historic buildings at the former Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, (now the headquarters of the South African Astronomical Observatory) after which the area is named. Middle left: Groote Schuur Hospital. Centre Middle: A World War I monument in the centre of the Neighborhood. Middle right: Cafes on lower main road in Observatory. Bottom: A view of Observatory's soccer and hockey stadium looking towards Devil's Peak.
Street map of Observatory
Observatory Show map of Western Cape Observatory Show map of South Africa Observatory Show map of Africa  Observatory shown within Western Cape
Location within Cape Town  Observatory
Coordinates: 33°56′16″S 18°28′15″E / 33.93778°S 18.47083°E / -33.93778; 18.47083Coordinates: 33°56′16″S 18°28′15″E / 33.93778°S 18.47083°E / -33.93778; 18.47083
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
Municipality	City of Cape Town
Government
• Councillor	Brett Herron (DA)
Area
• Total	3.10 km2 (1.20 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	9,207
• Density	3,000/km2 (7,700/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	39.7%
• Coloured	18.5%
• Indian/Asian	3.6%
• White	34.4%
• Other	3.9%
First languages (2011)
• English	66.2%
• Afrikaans	11.2%
• Xhosa	5.9%
• Zulu	1.4%
• Other	15.4%
Postal code (street)	7925
PO box	7935

Observatory is a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa that is bordered by Mowbray to the south, and Salt River to the north-west. Known affectionately as Obs, the area is best known as a student neighbourhood, most of whom attend the University of Cape Town located close by. It is also the home of the South African Astronomical Observatory headquarters as well as Groote Schuur Hospital.

The suburb of Observatory is situated on the north-facing lower slopes of Devil's Peak. The slope runs into the Liesbeeck River and, as such much of present-day lower Observatory was a marshy estuary formed by the rivers, where buffalo, hippo, elephant, zebra, jackals, antelope, lions and leopards were once prevalent.

The Raapenberg Bird Sanctuary protects 10 hectares (25 acres) of land along the Liesbeek River.

Observatory traces its origins to the Koornhoop Colony land grant issued in 1657. Between February 1657 and February 1658, fourteen free burghers were granted land by the Dutch East India Company along the Liesbeeck River valley. The then Governor of the Cape, Jan van Riebeek, decreed that a fortified building called “Fort Coornhoop” be built as one of several small forts to protect against the hottentots. Part of what was developed as Koornhoop became Uitwyk, which is now known as Malta Farm.

The name is derived from the location and construction of the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope in the area at 33°56′7.13″S 18°28′38.47″E / 33.9353139°S 18.4773528°E / -33.9353139; 18.4773528 (SAAO) in 1820. The Royal Observatory in Observatory, Cape Town, houses the McClean Telescope. The building was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and was completed in 1897. The original buildings now serve as the headquarters of the South African Astronomical Observatory, with an on-site museum exhibiting various historic instruments and telescopes.