​Spes Bona Girl Students Residence was founded in 1910 under the Chairmanship of Mrs John X Merriman as a result of a meeting in the Cape Town Town City Hall in order to provide a home for young adult females coming from other parts of the country to pursue their tertiary studies in Cape Town.

​In 1913 a company was established which raised enough money to purchase grounds in the Gardens and here the present residence was built to house 60 students in 1915.

Our philosophy at Spes Bona is that "the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow".

During the 1980’s, the Residence faced imminent closure but was saved from demolition by a committee chaired by Mrs Cleone McMillan, its second founder and Honorary Life President.

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Spes Bona celebrated its centenary in 2010.

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Founder: Mrs Agnes Merriman - 1910

​The residence continues to thrive and provides accommodation on a full board basis to young female adults pursuing tertiary education in Cape Town.

Second founder: Mrs Cleone McMillan - 1983