Page 4 - Bulletin 17 2013

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAPE PENINSULA RESORTS, 1910 – 39.

PART 2: THE FALSE BAY COAST

Barrie Gasson

Introduction

This paper is the sequel to the one on the resorts of the Atlantic Coast in Bulletin 16. As

indicated there, resort development at the Cape was inspired by what Brighton and other
th
English coastal places had achieved during the 19 century. A model for success had
evolved there and was emulated here. Its essential components were: rail access,

accommodations (hotels & boarding houses), a pier with entertainment pavilion, a
promenade, and horse-drawn bathing machines on the beach. Many other amenities and

services followed, notably boat rides from the pier or beach, and donkey rides for
children. A resort’s popularity could be greatly enhanced if royalty or celebrities from the

worlds of politics, business, the arts, the military, and so on, made it their favourite
holiday destination.

At the Cape coastal amenities were developed concurrently along both the Atlantic and
False Bay coastlines. Significant dates on the Atlantic coastline were: 1895 at Sea Point –

a privately built pool and pavilion; 1904 at Camps Bay – a swimming pool and pavilion;
1913 the Adderley Street Pier; 1914 at Woodstock – a pavilion.

The story of developments along the False Bay coast starts at Muizenberg and moves

progressively southwards.

Muizenberg

Three factors put Muizenberg on the map: amenity, accessibility and celebrity. Its superb
natural amenities had existed for aeons. (Fig. 1.1.) Chief among them were its clean

gently-sloping sandy beach, warm current-free and shark-free waters, and long lines of