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sanitation, and some prominent buildings, chief among which were a concert hall with a

rotunda of 100 ft diameter and seating capacity of 1000 – it is still there – and an
enclosed swimming bath. This was built to competition standards of 100 ft by 50 ft for

swimming and water polo, spectator seating for 780 was provided, and the heated water
was drawn from the nearby power station that had been built in 1896. (Figs. 3.48 – 3.50.)

A kiddies’ pool and tea-room followed. (Figs. 3.51 & 3.52.) A golf course was laid out,
and a promenade pier spanning the rocks between Camps Bay and Lime Kiln Bay was

intended. (SA Architect & Builder, 1904.)

In addition, accessibility was greatly improved with the construction of the electric

tramline, drawing power from the power station, that formed a circuit of 11½ miles from

town over the pine-clad slopes of Kloof Nek (its steepness made motor-car driving
impracticable in those days), along the foot-slopes of the Twelve Apostles to Bakoven,

back to the Camps Bay beachfront, and then via Clifton and Sea Point to Cape Town. It
opened on 10 November 1902 and was truly unique, and was regarded as a wonderful

feat of engineering and the tram ride as unequalled in the world. (Cape Peninsula
Publicity Association, 1918: 25). (Figs. 3.53 & 3.54) The journey took 1¾ hours and

trams eventually ran every 15 minutes. However, the ambitious growth plans were

undercut by the post-Boer War Depression. By 1905 only two cars ran each way daily.
From 1907 onwards the line closed during winter.

After Union in 1910 there was another burst of interest and Camps Bay became

accessible also by motor buses. In 1912 the Marine Hotel with more than 40 bedrooms
and all modern conveniences opened. After the municipal amalgamation in 1913 the new

City Council was required to spend £12,000 on the improvement of this part of its

coastline before September 1916. Even before unification the Council had been in
discussion with CMS and the Improvements and Parks Committee had appointed a sub-

committee to develop a scheme in conjunction with the Resident Engineer Mr Piercy.

This resulted in construction at Lime Kiln Bay of a seawall to create a substantial bathing
pool. (Figs. 3.55 & 3.56.) An L-shaped pavilion was built near the pool to provide wind