Page 216 - Bulletin 9 2005

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First to go up, or down, was the tramways, but as there was a war on and the tramlines
were stuck at sea on the ship, they first built a power station. The heat from the

tramways was used to heat water for an indoor swimming pool that was built in front of
it. The power station is now the Theatre on the Bay and the swimming pool is now the

sunken garden below it, with the war memorial just in front. (Fig. 5.5).

The tramways were a great success. Oranjezicht was a great success. Poor farmer van

Breda went bankrupt - he had failed to realise that, without his water rights he would be
unable to water the orange groves that had made his farm ‘Oranjezicht’ so successful.

Camps Bay was a great success. Farquhar developed it and marketed it as a little
Brighton. The Rotunda was built, it was a great success. Farqhar provided endless

entertainment not only for the people of Camps Bay, but also for the thousands of

holiday-makers who frequented this idyllic spot. There were sand-modelling
competitions, boxing matches, skating, sports meetings and picnics. He was so

successful at promoting it for holidays that 10 000 people were reported to have

holidayed there in 1906 and 8 000 tickets were sold. Camps Bay is described as
“beautiful in situation, convenient for business and pleasure and ideal for a Seaside

Holiday” and, with the terminological inexactitude typical of copy-writers, the weather
is described, not as being windy, but as having breezes which are “more bracing” and an

atmosphere “more invigorating” than other places.

The advert went on to state that “this new suburb is being developed along modern lines

and is equipped with all the latest ideas for a marine township. Everything is being done
to attract visitors and to make their stay enjoyable and beautiful.” The rest of the copy

extols the seaside facilities, the Private Warmed Sea Water Slipper Baths, (which cure
Gout, Rheumatism or Sciatica), the Large Marine Hotel being erected with between 40

and 50 Bedrooms, Drawing Room, Reading Room, Library and Smoke Room (sic) and
provision for visitors to sleep on the wide verandas and balcony, “the beautiful Pine

Woods and Picnic Grounds, lovely walks and sylvan glades... Nowhere in the Peninsula

will the holiday maker find a more healthy, convenient and attractive Seaside Resort
than at Camp's Bay.”