Page 53 - Bulletin 22

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The beach between the pavilion and the ‘Corner’ remained unobstructed and the local fleet of

about six trek boats was beached there. Near the western corner of the pavilion an open-air
theatre was placed, with its back to the wind, and a number of fences were set up to control

windblown sand. On the pavilion’s relatively sheltered landward side grassed areas and paths
were laid out in a formal geometric pattern with a central bandstand in front of the pavilion’s

entrance. Bordering Beach Road the large block of land bounded by Sidmouth and Melrose
Roads stood vacant except for one building that would be enlarged into His Majesty’s

Theatre in 1920 (today Green’s Building with ground floor occupied by Knead.) (Figs. 2.19

& 2.20.)

In September 1910 all box owners were informed of new regulations including that iron

boxes would no longer be allowed, all would have to conform to Council design and colours,
and private boxes would be relocated. All boxes were located 30 m east of the pavilion in a

neat double row that initially numbered 18 but increased to 58 (41 singles and 17 doubles) by
1915. (Figs. 2.21 & 2.22.) Each row had a repetitive rhythm of one double box (12 ft x 8 ft)

next to two singles (6 ft x 8 ft.), to Mr Howells’ design. They were made of quality materials.
Their post and beam structure was of jarrah hardwood, and the sides and roof were of red

deal weather board; windows were of Flemish glass, and hinges and locks of brass.

Among the prominent owners of boxes in 1914 were: Herbert Baker, JB Robinson, Abe

Bailey, Ernest Oppenheimer, Hon Henry Burton, John Garlick, JW Jagger, and W Spilhaus.

Following the municipal amalgamation in 1913 the City Council gave attention to replacing
the old pavilion with something befitting the Brighton of South Africa and which Kipling had

apparently claimed had the finest beach in the world. The full area of interest was the flat,

sandy, wind and wave-swept foreshore-backshore some 7.6 ha in extent, bounded by the
HWM, Beach Road and the vlei mouth. In 1914 Council adopted the ambitious plan for the

beachfront produced by Mr Robert Piercy (formerly Resident Engineer, Adderley Street

Pier), which also included a marine promenade on the seaward side of the railway from
Muizenberg to Kalk Bay. But it was put in abeyance because of the war. In 1916 City

Engineer Mr DE Lloyd-Davies (appointed 29 July 1914) was instructed to report on the
development of the beachfront and he produced a scheme similar to Piercy’s. Also in 1916,

Council selected architect William Hood Grant’s design for the new pavilion from a number
of competitive designs. But all further work was then put on hold for the duration of the war.