Nostalgia
A look at Cape Town long ago
VIEW OF THE CITY CENTRE FROM SIGNAL HILL, EARLY 1900s
This photograph was taken before land was reclaimed from Table Bay in the 1950s, forming the area known today as the Foreshore. Until the mid-18th century, Cape Dutch thatched roofs and gables were popular in Cape Town, but due to frequent fires, these were abandoned in favour of flat roofs. This led to the development of double-storey buildings, which allowed greater density in the expanding city centre, with the exception of the ‘Malay Quarter’ (Bo-Kaap) on the slopes of Signal Hill.
Because its residents were not wealthy, houses in the Bo-Kaap remained predominantly one-storey, three-bay flat roofs, a style still visible there today. The church on the right was originally a warehouse built by Martin Melck. It was converted to a church and given to the Lutheran congregation in 1774. Although the CBD is barely recognisable today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church still stands on Strand Street next to what is now the Gold of Africa Museum (previously Martin Melck House).
If you have a story about Cape Towns bygone days - an anecdote, memory or family legend - please email emma@hsm.co.za.