Tour description
The Salt River Street art tour goes through one of the oldest communities in Cape Town
The tour is 2 hours in duration starting from the Old Biscuit Mill as we explore the historic aspects of the community and over 50 local
and international art installations
History of Salt River
Salt River Lagoon and the surrounds were widely used by San hunter-gatherers and early Khoi nomadic pastoralists.
Salt River, gets its name from the river which flows from the Liesbeek river into the sea in the Salt River area and along this coastline is the site of the Battle of Salt River 1510. Cape’s oldest recorded battle between Europeans and indigenous people.
In 1510, the Viceroy of Portuguese India, Francisco d’Almeida, was killed in a fight with the local Khoi’s Khoekhoen tribe, the Goringhaiquas. He and his sailors were trying to abduct two children and steal cattle. The Goringhaiquas won this was called the battle of Salt RiverThe event had far reaching effects – the Portuguese not landing here to replenish their supplies gave other nations competitive advantage. – It wasn’t until 150 years later that the VOC (Dutch East India Company) started their refreshment station her
The Salt River area is known to be a fertile area around the Liesbeek river, thus under the early Dutch East India occupation in 1652 the area was used as a farming community
The real turning point to Salt River’s development was the railway – in 1862 it became a major railway junction. In 1883 it was joined with Woodstock as one municipality – together they became the industrial centre of Cape Town, in particular for textile and clothing manufacturing.
With the arrival of the train in 1860’s it brought growth to the Salt River community and this is the reason why in Salt River you will find rows of small terraced houses for workers, in a Victorian colonial vernacular style – small stoeps, single story, built on roads with British names, like the poets Tennyson and Pope, or places like Chatham and London, while the main roads were given royal names.
Under the years of Apartheid South Africa the area became known as a “Grey Area” where both whites and non-whites could live in the area…interestingly enough Coloured” people could buy houses, while Indian residents could buy, or rent, a corner grocery shop, and if they did, they were permitted to live in the adjoining house.
With the collapse of the textile industry in 1990’s this has brought urban regeneration into the area…and many things have changed in the community in recent years
The Salt River art and history tour is not only for art lovers but for the whole family
Outside visit
The Old Biscuit Mill Market
The Old Biscuit Mill is a old mill of 1889 where they used to make local biscuits and now is home to number of restaurants and the well known Neighbourhood market This is where we will start and end the tour Meet us at the security gate at the Old Biscuit Mill (375 Albert Road) If you do come with a car secure parking is available at the Old Biscuit Mill
2
Outside visit
Salt River Circle
The Salt River circle is a vital connection to all areas of Cape Town. which lead to Salt River been the center of the textile industry during the years of Apartheid and still to this day
3
Outside visit
OPEN Air Gallery Salt River
The street is lined with incredible public art pieced done by local and international artist 1 Jakes Mbele 3 D exploring: the aritist got his inspiration from pencil drawings 2 Maya from France done this wonderful piece showing us and nature 3 Rhino conservation 4. Art in Motion 5. 3 D blocks of a lady and lion 6. Cartoon archie done by Petra Vonk 7. Digitialiation 8. Is it to be or is it not to be 9. The Sunday Times on the 11 February 1990 the day of Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years
4
Outside visit
Addison Street
On this street you will find the art by Marenette Swart () it is the cubics block which represents our education and who we are as people, now it is time for us to rise in those lightbulb moments to break the crust of the earth because as the art piece says to the one with lightbuld moments, and passionate hearts rise up, make the difference, Don’t hold back, fly higher, dream bigger than ever before.
5
Outside visit
Dryden Street
Leopard done by Sunnysundancer and the Cape Leopard Foundation…he has almost taken a photographic image of the leopard (one can actually see the reflection in the eyes and then as he finished the art piece he splashed the paint against it because he says if you don’t look after leopards they won’t be in the world forever this is why he has splashed the paint accross the leopard
6
Outside visit
Swift Street
This incredible 80m long master art piece done by Linus Haertjens, Page33 and Zesta. Showcases the Cape minstrels of the Salt River community, the graffiti art by laws of Cape Town and the dire water situation Capetonians found ourselves in, in 2018.
7
Outside visit
Burns Road
Go up Burns the first painting done by Jennifer Urnie the art name is Journey from () She has painted the bee and the bee hive at the top she has done a jug of water throwing water into the fish bowl talking about water and land conservation Then Haanie Bee who studied graphic design at UCT her brother is in Marine Biology so something which close to her heart is what is happening in our oceans with the pollution in the ocean Ras Silias with Africa Geometrics of the lady and the frog
8
Outside visit
Fenton Road
Desiree Ellis the Magic Lady who grew up in Salt River and played soccer in the Dove Street Sports complex, she went on to play for Banyana Banyana (International Football team) became the captain and now is the coach of Banyana Bayana She made her international debut of on the 11 February 1990, the day Nelson Mandela was released from prison
9
Outside visit
Community House
Community House situated in Salt River, Cape Town is a unique and historic site of living heritage. It has always been known as a site of activism from around the mid 1980s which has shaped and continues to shape the socio-political landscape of its extended communities. The building itself houses NGO’s and Trade Unions as well as a labour and community history museum centered on the Trade Union Library and its archive, as well as providing affordable Halls for hire Cape Town.
10
Outside visit
Voortrekker Road
Voortrekker Road in Cape Town has a history intertwined with the area’s development and the Voortrekker movement. Initially, it was a wagon path connecting the Salt River area to Bellville. It later became a major arterial road, and a railway line was built alongside it in the 1860s. The road’s name reflects its significance as a key route for the Voortrekkers, who migrated from the Cape Colony to the Transvaal
will meet the guests at the 375 Albert Road, Woodstock at the security gate I will always have my tourists badge and a bag over the shoulder
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