Page 71 - Bulletin 9 2005
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on Quarter Deck Estate, the son of a Filipino seaman from the wrecked Star of Africa,
went to school locally, served under eight postmasters, and came to know most of the
prominent personalities who lived in or visited the Kalk Bay area.
Conclusion
During the 1930s, as part of a national programme of providing and upgrading local
postal services, three new post offices were built at Muizenberg, St. James, and Kalk
Bay – the one at Kalk Bay being positioned adjacent to the site of the first post office.
Part of the programme involved public art in the form of decorated interior and exterior
tiles which were produced at Olifantsfontein in the Transvaal. Changing
communications technologies and market conditions have caused the closure of all three
local post offices but the buildings still stand and have been put to new uses. The
decorated tiles remain intact and as bright as when they were made 70 years ago.
References
Baker, K. (1983 - 1986) The Maritime and Postal History of Simon's Town, File No. 7
“Postal History Services”, Parts 1 – 9, Simon’s Town Museum.
Chapman, F. P. (1965) Penny Post comes to Simon's Town, Simon’s Town Historical
Society Bulletin, Vol. III, No. 1, 3 – 14.
Rosenthal, E. and E. Blum (1969) Runner and Mail Coach, Purnell (Pty) Ltd., Cape
Town.
Robinson, M. (2000) Old Letter Boxes, A Shire Book, Risborough, Bucks., UK.
The Cape of Good Hope Almanac – various issues.