Cape Town Heritage Trust

The Cape Town Heritage Trust is an independent, private-sector, non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Cape Town's man-made and natural environment, and through it the socio-economic advancement of the city and its people.

The Trust was established in 1987 by the Cape Town City Council with the backing of the Cape Provincial Administration. A number of historic buildings in Shortmarket and Hout Streets, originally acquired for road-widening purposes, were donated to the Trust. These properties were sold subject to strict conditions on their restoration and conservation, and the Trust remains actively engaged in a partnership scheme with the Council and individual property owners to upgrade these historic streets.

Among its landmark achievements is the restoration of Heritage Square, the Bree and Shortmarket Street block completed in 1998, which comprises the largest surviving group of 18th-century buildings in Cape Town. Alongside its restoration work, the Trust champions heritage conservation and public education, helping residents and visitors alike to understand and protect the places that make Cape Town unique.

Donations support the Trust's restoration projects, the ongoing conservation of historic sites, and education programmes that keep Cape Town's heritage alive for future generations.