The inside story of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
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The inside story of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Before the Foreshore was reclaimed from the sea, this was the amenity at the bottom of Adderley Street.
I haven’t come across a better photograph demonstrating how wonderful Cape Town’s Pier must have been. And what a loss Cape Town’s close connection to the sea must have been.
The big positive for the city, though, was that all the vacant land on the Foreshore probably saved many of Cape Town’s old buildings and neighbourhoods from demolition to make way for new buildings. Imagine tall office buildings filling Bokaap, Tamboerskloof and Oranjezicht!
Apart from being used for concerts, it was a place to stroll at lunchtimes, to fish from or explore Table Bay in a rowing boat or dingy. Regular swimming competitions took place here.
Since my focus is the V&A Waterfront, I haven’t had time to dig into the City Council’s archives to find the debates and decisions taken for the building of The Pier, or find out who designed it. Nothing appears on Google.
Maybe someone at the City will be prepared to do some digging?
