Page 93 - KBHA BULLETIN 2

90

The final ceremony was held on 1 May 1897 (Fig. 4.4.) In the presence of local dignitaries

and accompanied by the Band of the 1st Leicestershire Regiment, whose musical instruments
had been ferried to the mountain top by ropeway, the Mayor, Sir John Woodhead, laid the last

stone in the parapet wall. He expressed the hope that another dam would be built above the

Woodhead. A dam almost of equal capacity to the Woodhead was indeed completed in 1904
and named after the Governor, Sir Walter Healy-Hutchinson.

The other municipalities on the Peninsula were also experiencing water problems associated
with general population growth. Wynberg Municipality, for example, constructed three dams

over an 18-year period: Alexandra 1892 - 93, Victoria 1896 - 97, and De Villiers 1904 - 10.

All were designed by Mr T Stewart. Simon’s Town Municipality also constructed its own
supply in 1897, the Victoria Reservoir, designed again by Stewart. The Kalk Bay -

Muizenberg Municipality established its own independent supply during this time too.

THE KALK BAY WATER SCHEME

Barrie Gasson

The first water supplies in the Kalk Bay area were drawn from the many local springs and
streamlets. An old map (Fig. 4.5) shows a dam and two lines of pipes, from the stream

feeding the waterfall, one running down the contour towards the old washing place near

Rouxville Road, and another branch running southwards along the contour towards van
Blerk’s farm.

On 2 May 1895 Kalk Bay - Muizenberg was granted Municipal status and the first Council
embarked on far-sighted plans for improving the attractivenes of the municipal area, such as

the development of Zandvei for water sports; construction of an esplanade at Muizenberg; the
prevention forever of building development between the rail line and the sea; the construction

of a breakwater, fish-cleaning places, and fishermen’s houses at Kalk Bay; the provision of

Commonage for the grazing of cattle; and the allocation of land for a cemetery.