Situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain in the heart of Cape Town's working harbour, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront has become one of South Africa's most visited destination. Set against a backdrop of magnificent sea and mountain views, exciting shopping and entertainment venues are intermingled with office locations, world-class hotels and luxury apartments in the residential marina.
Buildings of Historical Significance
The Clock Tower Situated near the site of the original Bertie's Landing Restaurant, the Victorian Gothic-style Clock Tower has always been an icon of the old docks and has become an important focal point in the Waterfront's recent urban design. This was the original Port Captain's Office completed in 1882. On the second floor is a decorative mirror room, which enabled the Port Captain to have a view of all activities in the harbour. On the bottom floor is a tide-gouge mechanism used to check the level of the tide. Restoration of the Clock Tower was completed towards the end of 1997.
Time Ball Tower The Time Ball (invented by Captain Robert Wauchope) is a signaling device in which a ball is dropped at a given time in order for sips' masters to determine the error and rate of their chronometers whilst in harbour. The Time Ball Tower in the Waterfront was built in 1894 and is situated next the Harbour Engineer's former residence (Dock House). It remained in use for 40 years after which new technology led to it lying idle for 63 years before being restored and officially recommissioned in November 1997.
The Dragon Tree The Dragon Tree (dracaeno draco) planted next to the Time Ball Tower is a species originally from the Canary Islands. Well over 100 years old, this is one of the largest of its type in Cape Town. Believed to have been planted by a sailor passing through Cape Town, the sap ("dragons blood") of these trees was once popular as a medicine to treat dysentery and diarrhea. Unfortunately, the Dragon Tree was severely damaged in storms of 2001. The leaves of the tree have all been cut off to allow the tree to regenerate.
Robben Island Embarkation Building At the end of Quay 5 on Jetty 1 is the embarkation building for prisoners sent to Robben Island. Although the purpose and use of the island changed a number of times over the last century or so, it more recently gained international notoriety as a prison for contemporary political figures including South Africa's first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela. The Robben Island Exhibition and Information Centre situated next door to the Clock Tower building, is a unique museum depicting the history of Robben Island and the political struggle to overthrow apartheid. Bookings for guided tours are essential, and can be made at tel: +27 (0)21 419 1300.
Daily ferry trips to Robben Island depart from the jetty near the Robben Island Exhibition and Information Centre in the Clock Tower Precinct and from the Robben Island Embarkation Building on Jetty 1.. Guided tours and bus tours on the island include a visit to the prison with viewing of the limestone quarry, Garrison Church (1841), lighthouse (1863), Leper's Church (1895), guesthouse (1895) and a Kramat, or Muslim shrine. Seabirds, African (jackass) penguins, ostriches and bontebok are some of the wildlife on the island. Tickets may be purchased from the Robben Island Embarkation Building, tel: +27 (0)21 419 1300.
Seal Landing It is unusual to get a close view of seals, as offshore islands are their preferred breeding grounds. A colony of Cape fur seals are however a familiar sight resting on the seal landing in the Clock Tower Precinct next to the original Bertie's Landing Restaurant and on old tyres lining the quaysides around the Waterfront. They are an integral part of harbour life and Capetonians are fortunate enough to have these seals living in such close proximity.
Breakwater Prison (Lodge) The original Breakwater Prison was constructed in 1860 to house the convicts working on the breakwater. A dramatic reminder of the punitive penal attitudes prevalent in the 1890's is the remains of a treadmill visible alongside the former prison building, now housing the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business and the Breakwater Lodge - a comfortable non-graded hotel. Tel: +27 (0)21 406 1911
South African Maritime Museum The museum showcases the maritime history of Table Bay and houses the largest collection of model ships in South Africa. Floating exhibits in the Victoria and Alfred Basins include the SAS Somerset - a retired Naval Defence Boom Vessel and the Alwyn Vintcent - a coal-fired steam tug. Both may be boarded for a nominal fee. Tel: +27 (0)21 419 2505.
Chavonnes Battery Of particular significance to the new Clock Tower Precinct development, is its historical base - the Clock Tower, itself a national monument. Recently, preliminary excavation uncovered a portion of the Chavonnes Battery, which is one of the oldest European structures in South Africa, built in the early 1700's. Investigations conducted by the Archaeology Contracts Office at the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cape Town have yielded a full report on the history of the battery.
Built in 1714-1725 by the Dutch East India Company, the Chavonnes Battery was designed to further protect the Cape, together with Fort Knokke and the Amsterdam Battery.
Eyewitness accounts described the Chavonnes Battery as being the most formidable of the Table Bay fortifications.
By mid-19th century, the Chavonnes Battery had been put to a number of uses. Besides serving a military role, it was used as an isolation and convalescent wing of the old Somerset Hospital. Crews and passengers of the old Somerset Hospital. Crews and passengers of ships stricken with contagious illnesses such as smallpox were confined to the battery until they were considered fit. The Battery was decommissioned in 1861.
As part of the new development, the Chavonnes Battery has been retained and part of the ruins opened to the public for viewing - and acts as a real feature of the Clock Tower Precinct.
For More Information: tel: +27 (0)21 416 6230
Other Historical Buildings and Interesting Locations There are numerous other historical buildings within the V&A Waterfront boundaries and a number of these may be viewed by strolling around the Waterfront.
Maps detailing the locations of the historical buildings are available from Waterfront Information, tel: +27 (0)21 408 7600.
