[1] Leeuwenhof was originally a farmhouse dating to the time of the Dutch East India Company's rule of Cape Town.

[citation needed] Who and when built the mansion is not precisely known, but it was owned by 15 proprietors, all prosperous, before it was purchased by the provincial government.

[citation needed] On 22 October 1693, Governor Simon van der Stel granted the 12 ha near Table Mountain as a homestead to the businessman Guillaume Heems.

He expanded the farm by annexing adjacent land until it reached 79 ha, becoming a successful farmer who owned dozens of slaves and planted large vineyards.

Shortly afterwards, Lewis (a mining magnate) became the sole owner of the property, now down to 2 ha around the mansion, and proceeded to refurbish and renovate the house with antique furniture.