Page 117 - Bulletin 9 2005
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that it should be possible to motor right around the Peninsula. The campaign for this All
Round the Cape Peninsula Road or, as it became known popularly, the “All Round” Road,
had been underway for some years. The greater portion of the road fell within the Simon’s
Town Magisterial District where the Resident Magistrate, Mr. George Boyes, was a
consistent supporter of its construction. Then, in September 1911 the Cape Rural Council
took an important step when it adopted a Report of its Works Committee recommending
that, in the event of the road being built, Council would take over those sections that fell
within its jurisdiction for maintenance and control. This was essential as lengthy sections,
particularly south of Hout Bay and Miller’s Point, lay outside the boundaries of the many
small Peninsula municipalities along the northern parts of the Peninsula. The amalgamation
of these municipalities in 1913 was an additional important step towards the realization of
the grand idea on the northern and central parts of the Peninsula. On 13 August 1913, on
the occasion of the Promulgation of the Capetown Unification Ordinance, the Provincial
Administrator, Sir Frederick de Waal, spoke about the many benefits to be derived from
municipal amalgamation - one of which was the removal of parochial municipal obstacles
to the construction of the “All Round” Road.
Minute of the Mayor1913.
“……… I may refer to one concrete example, in which a start has already been made, with
the aid of the Provincial Council, viz., the provision of development roads, by which not
only will portions of the Peninsula receive improved outlets for traffic and possibilities of
development, but tourists and visitors and the citizens themselves will be given additional
pleasure resorts and fresh fields for healthful enjoyment. When the Peninsula road
development scheme is complete, it will be possible to make a circular tour of something
like 65 miles from Capetown, via Victoria-road, Hout Bay, and Noordhoek, to the plateau
above Smit’s Winkel Bay, and thence via Miller’s Point and Simon’s Town to the original
starting point. There will also be the route from Roeland street, via Groote Schuur and
Newlands-avenue, to Kirstenbosch (the site of the contemplated National Botanical
Garden), and then via Constantia Nek to Hout Bay. The route from Hout Bay to
Noordhoek, via Chapman’s Peak, will reveal striking and imposing scenery, traversing as it
will the lower levels of rocky precipices which characterize that portion of our coast. In
few, if any, places in the world will a more striking and attractive marine pleasure drive be
found. Work is already well advanced on certain sections of the scheme thus outlined.