On 31 July 1685, the High Commissioner, Hendrik Adriaan van Reede, granted a farm of 762 hectares, which was to become known as Constantia, to Simon van der Stel. The origin of the name is not known. Various additions were made to the original grant. The Groot Constantia State Estate previously formed part of the farm Constantia, which was granted to Simon van der Stel in 1685 and was subdivided after his death in 1712. The farm Constantia with the Cape Dutch manor house thereOn was acquired in 1885