Cape Town Then and Now by Vincent Rokitta van Graan

Author:Vincent Rokitta van Graan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cape Town Then and Now is a unique visual portrait of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula, contrasting rare archival photographs with stunning contemporary views. The book draws on the superb photographic collections of the Western Cape Archives, including the work of Arthur Elliott, Thomas Ravenscroft and Henry Steer. These images portray the changing Cape Town scene from the 1880s to the 1930s – landscape, architecture, transport, recreation and the march of history. Where possible, the modern-day photographs, which include spectacular aerial panoramas, have been shot from the same locations as the originals. Detailed captions explain the differences between the old and the new views, and bring out fascinating continuities over time. Cape Town Then and Now is a visual journey that will appeal to Capetonians and visitors alike.
ISBN: 978-1-92054-592-5
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Published: 2013-09-27T16:00:00+00:00

ATLANTIC SEABOARD – CAMPS BAY

This view of Camps Bay, with the Rotunda visible on the left, shows one of the trams that ran between Cape Town and Camps Bay. The first electric trams ran in 1896. Five years later, on 9 May 1901, the line between Cape Town and Camps Bay (via Sea Point) was opened, and this initiated the transformation of Camps Bay into a popular holiday resort. The single-decker tramcars were painted in an elegant cream and chocolate livery.

In 1902, a further section of tramway was built from the terminus at Camps Bay, over Kloof Nek, to Cape Town. The 19-kilometre trip ‘around the mountain’ became a popular excursion. Travelling time along this route was an hour and a quarter, and cost one shilling and nine pence.

A guide to Cape Town published in 1904 described the tram ride from Cape Town to Camps Bay as ‘without doubt the most beautiful in the world, affording one vast panorama of matchless beauty’.

The Rotunda was built in 1904, and was the brainchild of James Riddell Farquhar, whose aim was to promote Camps Bay as a holiday resort. All kinds of events took place here, including concerts, dances, silent film shows and boxing matches.

A new section was added to the Rotunda in the 1950s. Subsequently, when new owners decided to demolish the building and put up a seven-storey block of flats, a storm of protest by Camps Bay residents led to the Rotunda being declared a heritage site.

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