Green Point Common has evolved numerous times over the years.
The Green Point Common is now a Grade II Provincial Heritage Site.
The decision has been approved by Heritage Western Cape (HWC) and the City of Cape Town; it only has to be gazetted.
The Green Point Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association (GPRRA) applied for the Provincial Heritage Site status in 2016.
“All that is required now is for the decision to be formally gazetted. This achievement represents a lasting legacy by GPRRA for future generations. Importantly it also acknowledges that the Common was vested in perpetuity in 1923 for sports and recreation for all the people of Cape Town, for all South Africans,” said Liz Knight, the co-chairperson for the GPRRA.
Antonia Malan, a historical archaeologist and heritage practitioner, says the nomination was made in response to public worries over the loss of public open space, as well as changes in the historical characteristics and traditional use of the common.
“The Green Point Common is an organically evolved, continuing cultural landscape. It evolved from an open coastal plain used as pasturage as well as informal sporting and/or recreation activities in the late 18th century. It was the home ground of some of the oldest sporting clubs in Cape Town. Existing historical features relating to this early sporting history have been retained within the design of the Green Point Urban Park, which is the latest stage within this landscape which for more than 100 years has been dedicated to recreation and sporting activities,” said Ms Malan.
She says that the Green Point track dates back to 1895, the golf club was founded in 1896, and numerous sports have been practised on the common since the 1950s.
“Some sports facilities served all the people of Cape Town even during the Apartheid era, such as what is now the A Track. In 1951 the Track was allocated by the City to the ‘Coloured’ community in compliance with Apartheid-period separate racial facilities. The old stadium is associated with the Cape Carnival parades and music.”
Ms Malan said during the construction of the stadium for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the Green Point Common was substantially rebuilt and re-landscaped, resulting in a significant reduction in accessible public open space.
“While the Grade II status does not prevent change, it removes responsibility for heritage-based decisions by the City (both the ‘owner’/manager and local development approval body) in favour of provincial level approvals (Heritage Western Cape). This avoids a potential conflict of interest within CoCT and includes consultation with Interested and Affected Parties,” she said.
Ward 54 councillor Nicola Jowell thanked the GPRRA for their dedication to making this heritage status a reality.
“The Green Point Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association have for many years been driving the process to declare the Common a Provincial Heritage Site. And their hard work and perseverance has finally resulted in the Provincial Declaration. The Green Point Common has been a part of our city’s rich and diverse history and there is oral, archaeological, recorded or photographed links to the area specifically. It’s an important provision to ensure that the area is kept for the use of community, sporting and cultural reasons,” Ms Jowell said.
At the time of going to print HWC did not send a response.
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