An easy stroll along the Mouille Point Promenade in the golden light of summer

We celebrated the start of the New Year with a leisurely stroll in the golden light of late afternoon along the Mouille Point/Green Point/Sea Point promenade, near the lighthouse with its distinctive red-and-white stripes.

There is an important update on this post!

The colourful Green Point lighthouse

Important Update:

I was just informed by our very knowledgeable neighbours M and P, that the red-and-white lighthouse at the Promenade is in fact not the Mouille Point lighthouse, but the Green Point lighthouse. It was the first solid lighthouse structure on the South African coastline, and first lit on 12 April 1824 (Wikipedia). It is often (erroneously) called the Mouille Point lighthouse (probably because it is located in that neighbourhood), but there was in fact a different lighthouse with that name between 1842 and 1908.

The real Mouille Point lighthouse was the second lighthouse to be built in South Africa. The structure was demolished in 1912, and all that remains now is a 3m high rebuilt structure. You can see a picture of what it looks like right now on this blog. You can also see a historic postcard of it here.

“1842. Inactive since 1908. The lighthouse, a brick tower with lantern and gallery about 11 m (36 ft) tall, was South Africa’s second lighthouse. Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard view. This lighthouse stood at the northwestern end of the Cape Town waterfront. Most of the tower was demolished in 1912, but the 1-story base, about 3 m (10 ft) high, has been restored recently and can be seen in front of a restaurant. Tower painted white. Claußen has a 2008 closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on Beach Road at Ganger Bay, just north of the waterfront. Site open. Site manager: Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant. ARLHS SAF-067.  (Information from this website: http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/zaf.htm)

Now isn’t that intriguing?! I think I need to go and check it out! I wonder if I can take a photograph?

Thank you, M and P, for taking the time to share this information with me.

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