The wildly successful Victoria and Alfred Waterfront has become such an intrinsic part of Cape Town’s landscape that its difficult to remember a time when it was just a harbour and you had no reason to go there unless you were boarding a ship. For many Capetonians, this beautifully situated and bustling complex has become part-and-parcel of everyday life with its 5 star hotels, world class restaurants and huge selection of shops. From its humble beginnings as a small jetty built by Jan van Riebeeck in 1654 to its current incarnation as the embodiment of all things slick and sophisticated, the V&A Waterfront has traveled a long and interesting road.
In 1860 Van Riebeeck’s unassuming jetty was developed into a harbour when Midshipman HRH Prince Alfred, second son to Queen Victoria, tipped the first load of stone to begin construction of the breakwater. Two years prior, a particularly harsh winter and a succession of storms had wrecked over 30 vessels anchored off the coast. Insurance Company Lloyds of London refused to cover ships that spent the winter in Table Bay. The seas were simply too rough; a safe harbour was needed. Only, the discovery of gold and diamonds heralded the arrival of more and more maritime traffic, and the original harbour, the Alfred Basin, soon became too small to accommodate the visiting ships. Hence, the Victoria Basin was built.
For a long time the Cape Town harbour remained just that, the habitat of sailors and shipyard workers. It was not until many years later, in 1988, that Transnet Limited established the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront as a subsidiary. The ambitious and genius plan was to redevelop the historic docklands around the Victoria and Alfred basins as a place for residents, tourists and retailers. With a working harbour at the centre of the development and an array of historically significant heritage buildings, this was an interesting and challenging project.
But for Cape Town locals, the Waterfront really ‘began’ in 1989 when Ferryman’s Tavern took up tenancy in the spacious and charming old Locomotive Shed of 1860 with its Oregon beams, solid teak pillars and quarried bluestone. Situated in the centre of the Waterfront, this was followed shortly by popular Quay 4 and well-known Bertie’s Landing which was opened by esteemed South African yachtsman, Bertie Reed. There is very little official information about this auspicious time in the city’s development, but Capetonians have fond memories and colourful stories of the Waterfront in its early days. With the country on the precipice of major political upheaval, the early 90s were a charged time in South African history; the energy had shifted, change was on the horizon and the future was looking uncertain. People were impatient with the old regime and hungry for something new. The edgy new harbour complex with its vibey drinking holes couldn’t have come at a better time.
A Green Point local describes his first experience of the Waterfront as follows: ‘I was cycling in Mouille Point with a friend when he said, “come and see this.” He took me through the docks and we ended up at a place called Quay 4. We went in to the bar and asked about jobs. The owner hired us on the spot. We worked on the opening night which was pretty quiet, but by the weekend word had gotten out and the place was packed. Everyone who was anyone in town was there. In those days the whole area was still open. There was a parking lot next door and parking was free for about 1000 cars. You’d drive right in, party all night and drive home again.”
While the Waterfront has grown, changed and developed over the past 30 years it continues to bring a fresh and vibrant energy to the area. If you have stories about the Waterfront from ‘way back when’ please share them as comments or photos, we’d love to hear your memories of that time.
Lance Real Estate is based in Fresnaye, Cape Town and covers the Atlantic Seaboard from the Waterfront to Camps Bay. With over 23 years’ experience in the most sought-after residential areas in Africa, Lance Real Estate has sold over R 1 billion worth of properties in the last 3 years.
It is this hands-on knowledge that sets Lance Real Estate apart from our competition. We have built an extensive database of buyers and sellers over the last 2 decades who have grown to trust our market knowledge and depend on us to negotiate the best possible deal in any property negotiation.
We are now extending our reach and taking on houses and apartments for sale from the Waterfront through to Camps Bay.
If you are looking for a remarkable agency to buy, rent or sell your property on the Atlantic Seaboard, our friendly customer care team is a phone call away.
We also have a range of holiday rentals to offer. If you appreciate beautiful African sunsets over the sea and sublime mountain views, then visit our holiday rentals section on our website.
Contact
Email: info@lancerealestate.co
Tel: +27 82 416 6103
Website: http://www.lancerealestate.co
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Photo: V&A Waterfront, CC flickrbug