More Than a Monument: The Glen Farmhouse’s New Life as a Community Hub

On today's episode of The Morning Cruise, we caught up with Dylan, a volunteer at the Glen Farmhouse - a newly restored community center nestled in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Once a neglected heritage site, the farmhouse is now being reimagined as a shared space for connection, enterprise, and resilience.

Originally built in the early 1800s and declared a national monument in the 1960s, the Glen Farmhouse has a long and layered history. As Dylan explained, it has served various purposes over time, “including some of the early settlers here we say in the modern age as well as the Navy.” More than just a building, the farmhouse stands on land that forms part of what Dylan called “the cradle of human culture.”

But in more recent years, the building had fallen into disrepair - “a bit of an eye sore,” as Dylan put it - and became associated with crime and neglect. That changed when a group of residents stepped in. The restoration process, which began in the early 1990s, was community-driven from the start. “It has already been a community movement, led by the community, for the community,” Dylan said.

What started as informal interest eventually evolved into a registered nonprofit with a formal business plan, partnerships with heritage bodies, and years of volunteer work. Local people have played a central role throughout. “Literally, your neighbors - the man in the street, the lady walking her dog - those are the people that have come together and made this happen,” Dylan told us.

While the Glen Farmhouse is not yet fully operational, the vision is clear. Once completed, it will host everything from community meetings and markets to co-working spaces and a café. There’s also talk of a shared shop for selling handmade goods or fresh produce. “It’s all about creating a community space where people can bring in their home enterprises, their ideas,” Dylan said.

One example of community energy in action is the recent potjie competition, which brought together local businesses, residents, and even the neighborhood’s internet provider. “We had 10 teams that invested a fair amount of money to come out and compete... and everything was donated,” Dylan shared. The event not only raised funds, but also strengthened relationships across the area.

For Dylan, the Glen Farmhouse symbolizes more than a building - it’s about building resilience from the ground up. He touched on ideas like food sovereignty, sustainability, and resource sharing: “Having a community center is a place where people can come together and share food, share thoughts, share ideas, share seeds.”

As the project moves into its next phase, Dylan encourages others to take inspiration. “If you've got [a community center already], that's a big asset. Invest in it,” he said. “A great way to create security is to create community.”

Written by Ryan Growney

Morning Cruise Presenters: Mkuseli "Khusi" Veto and Ryan Growney