Port Elizabeth History, Conference Venues South Africa, Conference Venues in Port Elizabeth |
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Port Elizabeth History - Conference Venues South AfricaHistory of Port Elizabeth
The area around what is now called Algoa Bay was first settled by indigenous tribes countless centuries ago. It is said that the San and Khoisan people were amongst the first inhabitants, and the Xhosa tribe came later. However, little is known as no written records are believed to exist from this time. The first Europeans to have visited the area were Bartolomeu Dias, who landed on St Croix Island in Algoa Bay in 1488, and Vasco da Gama who noted the nearby Bird Island in 1497. For centuries, the area was simply marked on navigation charts as "a landing place with fresh water". The area was part of the Cape Colony, which had a turbulent history between its founding by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 and the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. In 1799, during the first British occupation of the Colony during the Napoleonic Wars, a stone Fort was built, named Fort Frederick. This fort, built to protect against a possible landing of French Troops, overlooked the site of what later became Port Elizabeth and is now a monument. In 1820 a party of 4000 British settlers arrived by sea. At this time the seaport town was founded by Sir Rufane Donkin, the Acting Governor of the Cape Colony, who named it after his late wife, Elizabeth. The town expanded, building a diverse community comprising European, Cape Malay and other immigrants, and particularly rapidly so after 1873 when the railway to Kimberley was built [3]. The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women and children. The effects of the apartheid regime were not lost on Port Elizabeth. Forced relocation of the non-white population under the Group Areas Act began in 1962, causing various townships to be built. The whole of the South End district, being a prime real estate location, was forcibly depopulated and flattened in 1965; relocations continued until 1975. Since the free elections of 1994, Port Elizabeth has faced the same problems as the rest of South Africa, including HIV/AIDS and a surge in violent, often drug-related, crime. However, thanks to the booming tourism and real estate industries, development continues apace both in the city and nearby, for example in the new Industrial Development Zone at Coega. In 2001, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM) was formed as an administrative area covering Port Elizabeth, the neighbouring towns of Uitenhage and Despatch and the surrounding agricultural areas. This metropolitan area - also known as the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality - has a population of 1.5 million. The Donkin Reserve was created in honour of Sir Rufane Donkin's wife, Elizabeth, after whom the city is named. It is a park on a hill overlooking the central district of the city and the waterfront and contains a lighthouse and a small stone pyramid. The latter bears a touching inscription which reads "To the memory of one of the most perfect of human beings who has given her name to the Town below.". The Lighthouse was built in 1861 and is now used as the city’s tourist information office. Port Elizabeth AttractionsFort Frederick was built from stone in 1799 by British troops to protect against a possible landing of French Troops. The fort is named after Frederick, the Duke of York. It was originally armed with two eight pound guns and has a guardhouse and powder magazine. The Horse Memorial was erected to honour the many horses and mules which died during the Second Boer War between 1899 and 1902. Many of these wonderful attractions can be seen whilst taking a 5 km stroll along the Donkin Heritage Trail which makes its way through the city centre. The city also boasts many more modern attractions, as
well as markets selling items from tourist souvenirs to food and local
craftwork. The fabulous sunny beaches are also not to be missed. Conference Venues South Africa | Search for Venues with Conference Facilities in South Africa | Browse through available Confernce Venues in South Africa | Conferences Cape Town | Conference Venues in Western Cape | Conference Venues in Eastern Cape | Conference Venues in Northern Cape | Conference Venues in Kwazulu-Natal | Conference Venues in Free State | Conference Venues in Gauteng | Conference Venues in Limpopo Province | Conference Venues in North West Province | Conference Venues in Mpumalanga |South Africa Information | Contact Conference Venues | Web Resources | Conference Venues South Africa Sitemap 1 | Sitemap 2 |
