Die Braak has served multiple purposes over the centuries. Originally used as a military parade ground by the Stellenbosch and Drakenstein infantry from 1703, it gradually became an informal, and later formal, venue for sports. In the early 19th century, it was named King's Square. After Sir Charles Adderley supported the colonists in the anti-convict campaign, it was renamed Adderley Square. The site hosted various festivities, including celebrations for Queen Victoria's birthday, marked by firing the small cannons now housed in the Arsenal. In 1908, the Town Council formally decreed that the Braak would remain an open space for the residents of Stellenbosch.