Page 86 - Bulletin 11 2007

83

“Electric Light Works” was erected in 1891. (Fig. 2.8). It had a capacity of 200
horsepower and constituted the first central power station in South Africa. It supplied

current not only within the docks area, but also to the New Somerset Hospital, the
Public Library (now the National Library), the New Houses of Parliament, the Old

Somerset Hospital, the Cape Town Railway Station, the “New” Post and Telegraph

Offices, and, for a time, the Grand Hotel. The power station stood where the Craft
Market has now been built at the V&A Waterfront.

Shortly after, in March 1892, Messrs Edlin and Stevenson were contracted by the

Rondebosch Municipality to replace the “smoky old oil lamps” with electric lamps.
Rondebosch Municipality was the first after Kimberley to install electric streetlights.

The circuit of streetlights was about 5 miles in length. The Moodie Fountain, now called

the Rondebosch Fountain, carried four lamps. (Fig. 2.9). The St Paul’s Church, opposite
the Fountain, was also lit from this circuit. The Cape Argus of 25 April 1892 described

it as the second church in South Africa to adopt the electric light. Power was initially

supplied from the late George Moodie’s private lighting plant until Edlin and
Stevenson’s plant at the Liesbeek River was ready. The road to this plant was later

named Edison Road.

The following year the Claremont and Wynberg Municipalities also “unanimously
adopted the wire in preference to the old paraffin lamp.” (Cape Times). Edlin and

Stevenson entered into a 20-year contract with the Wynberg Municipality, dated 12

September 1892. In November the Cape Town and Suburban Electric Light Syndicate
(Limited) was formed by a number of influential businessmen. Mr R. Stuart Solomon

was Chairman and Edlin and Stevenson were Managing Engineers. The Wynberg
contract was transferred to this syndicate and a 12 horsepower generating plant was

installed near Church Street in what became Electric Road. The inauguration ceremony
was held on Saturday evening 22 July 1893. Mr Solomon opened the proceedings and

Mayor James Bisset set the machinery in motion. In 1900 this syndicate was

reconstituted as the Cape Peninsula Lighting Company, Limited.