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the pavilion which was described as “the largest and most perfectly equipped in South

Africa.” (Cape Town Publicity Association, 1926). (Figs. 3.40 – 3.42.) It was a double-
deck structure surrounding the pool and separated from it by a sandy enclosure beneath

the superstructure. The first floor contained changing cubicles, toilets and offices and
fronted onto a broad verandah that led down to the sand and the pool. The upper deck

was a promenade with tea-rooms and bandstand. It was visited by 156,000 patrons during
1930 but, as at Woodstock, these figures declined during the 1930s. The reason may have

been what the Director of Bathing Amenities described in his Annual Report as “the

growing evil of promiscuous and free bathing and the use of motor cars as changing
cubicles.” He was referring to the fact that people were swimming, at no cost, at places

other than the pools and pavilions that had been constructed with public funds and whose

financial viability would be undermined if patronage declined. He continued to refer to
this “evil” throughout the 1930s but apparently without being able to prevent it.

On 28 November 1935 Council approved proposals submitted by the Government for the

erection of a combined aquarium and biological research laboratory on the site of the old
Sea Point railway station near Queens Road. The arrangement was that the Council

would transfer the land to Government and contribute £3,500 to the total cost of £12,000,

and it would operate the aquarium at its cost and receive all the revenue arising. By this
time the Marine Aquarium at St. James had become obsolescent in many respects and in

need of costly renovations. It was closed in late 1937 and all the equipment, specimens
and library were transferred to Sea Point. In this way, 43 years after Walker’s grand

proposal, the aquarium component of his scheme was realised.

On 30 June 1938 Council approved an allocation of £191,000 for improvements at Sea

Point, including a warm water swimming bath, bathing pavilion, and concert pavilion.
(Fig. 3.43.) It is not clear whether this was in any way related to the closure and

demolition of the Adderley Street Pier but the coincidence of the dates suggests that

Council may have intended compensating for the loss of that amenity by up-grading the
Sea Point Pavilion and the construction of a Marine Promenade. The estimated cost of the