The water that you see in the bottom half of this photo is that of the Victoria Basin - the basin that stretches out alongside the V&A Waterfront shopping mall. The Collier Jetty, on the far end of the basin, is (as you can see) currently used as a spot to moor colourful fishing boats.
According to an industrial heritage white paper that I found, Cape Town harbour's elevator complex (the metal structure extending the length of the jetty) had been used by the Farmer's Co-operative since 1987 to load grain for export. I'm not sure whether or not it's till in use by the FC since the article mentions that due to the increased length and draught of ships they were no longer able to use it (for exports).
Don't you just love how the fishing boats are painted in similar fashion to the colourful houses of Bo-Kaap?
Pingback:
Lansete » Blog Archive » Collier Jetty, grain elevators, and fishing boats | Cape Town …
EnmaBR
Here, where I live, we don’t have a harbor… we don’t even have a grand lake or the ocean… ç.ç
I’d love to live in a city like that…
Ps: hey, I tried to translate a post of mine to English… could you read it? Thanks.
Paul
Post authorIt is pretty special to have a commercial “working” harbour that also has a public area with shops, restaurants etc. Cape Town certainly wouldn’t be the same without the Waterfront area.
Ps. I left a message on your blog. :)
David Worth
Hi Paul,
Nice photograph, and thanks for the link. The gantry worked from 1924 until 1995. It used to be clad in corrugated iron sheets, but they had to be removed because they were considered dangerous. The elevator (the tall, cream coloured, concrete building) was closed in 2001 and it’s future remains uncertain.
David Worth.
Paul
Post authorThanks, and it’s a pleasure David. Thanks for the additional information. Can I assume then that the key’s only used as a place to moor the fishing boats then?
(I should actually ask my dad about this also – he worked in the harbour for many years – until about 1991.)
David Worth
That’s right Paul. The quay is only used for the fishing boats now.