Cape Town’s historical collection expanded

Staff Reporter|Published 5 months ago

Mayoral committee member for corporate services, Theresa Uys and the City of Cape Town’s Environment and Heritage Resources Information Centre’s (EHRIC) Willem Hutten hold up one of the historical maps of Cape Town.

The City of Cape Town’s Environment and Heritage Resources Information Centre (EHRIC) has expanded its collection to include more material relating to the history and development of Cape Town.

The City’s Historical Map Collection is maintained and developed as a function of the environmental management department’s metro heritage office. It is housed at their Wale Street offices in the EHRIC - established from the disbanded old municipal reference library for the purposes of giving access to records and facilitate good heritage management.

EHRIC together with the Western Cape Government, holds the City’s original maps, building plans, property records, newspaper articles and reports.

Since its inception in 2010, EHRIC has grown to include critical resources such as:

A map series that includes the work of William Barclay Snow, Alexander Wilson and Walter Thom
Historical Mayoral Minutes and Agendas from 1890
Official Planning Reports
Historical photographs and glass negatives of the City
Newspaper clippings of interest to the City that date back to 1898
Historical surveys and plans of the city that date back as far as 1862
Historical Property Records
Copies of old Building Plans
Gazettes (including early newspapers) from 1809

The Mayoral committee member for corporate services, Theresa Uys, said the City’s historical map collection is a sensitive and valuable source of information.

“We need to look after it carefully and the acquisition of the ninth-floor strongroom enables the curation of these documents in an environment that is safe and appropriate.”

She said in the past, the maps were spread over five rooms, but now all of them are in one room that is secure, clean, dust free and has block out blinds.

She said the next step was to restore and digitise the maps plans and heritage-related documents.

Researchers, historians, town planners, City staff and interested members of the public can visit EHRIC by appointment via Mr Willem Hutten at willem.hutten@capetown.gov.za