Waterworks museumTable mountain nature reserve, South africa
Waterworks museum of Table mountain - Cape Town, part of the old steam crane 1
A museum about works done between 1896 and 1907 to construct the Helly Hutchinson, Woodhead, De Villiers, Alexandria and Victoria reservoirs on Cape Town's table mountain, as part of the water supply.
These were made of stone and cement, with some of the material being ferried up the mountain using a cable way on the Kasteelspoort ravine. Once on the plateau, a small train was used to the construction site and a crane for the heavy lifting.
The crane, cable way and train were steam powered and had to be assembled onsite after a long transit from overseas.
Today, over 95% of the city's water supply comes from elsewhere — though the dams still function, with a small museum near the two largest and oldest.
Its collection includes photos and displays from the construction, as well as equipment used such as the hand tools, crane and train.
Much of the original narrow gauge railway also remains.
What to do thereExplore the museum, see or know more about Cape Town's past water supply, and construction methods used.
Or go mountain biking, see some amazing views of Cape Town and the mountain, cycling, rock climbing or hike to the mountains top at the Maclear's beacon.
Best done in groups of two or more.
Best time to visitDuring spring and summer or August to January — when visibility is good, weather warm, vegetation flourishing and paths safer.
Location of Waterworks museumOn top of Cape Town's famous Table mountain, and on the northern end of the Woodhead and Helly Hutchinson reservoirs.
How to get thereBy hiking or mountain biking.
There are a number of routes to choose from, the toughest and scariest being through Skeleton gorge, though it takes about one to two hours on foot.
References1. By Zaian - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23413872
These were made of stone and cement, with some of the material being ferried up the mountain using a cable way on the Kasteelspoort ravine. Once on the plateau, a small train was used to the construction site and a crane for the heavy lifting.
The crane, cable way and train were steam powered and had to be assembled onsite after a long transit from overseas.
Today, over 95% of the city's water supply comes from elsewhere — though the dams still function, with a small museum near the two largest and oldest.
Its collection includes photos and displays from the construction, as well as equipment used such as the hand tools, crane and train.
Much of the original narrow gauge railway also remains.
What to do thereExplore the museum, see or know more about Cape Town's past water supply, and construction methods used.
Or go mountain biking, see some amazing views of Cape Town and the mountain, cycling, rock climbing or hike to the mountains top at the Maclear's beacon.
Best done in groups of two or more.
Best time to visitDuring spring and summer or August to January — when visibility is good, weather warm, vegetation flourishing and paths safer.
Location of Waterworks museumOn top of Cape Town's famous Table mountain, and on the northern end of the Woodhead and Helly Hutchinson reservoirs.
How to get thereBy hiking or mountain biking.
There are a number of routes to choose from, the toughest and scariest being through Skeleton gorge, though it takes about one to two hours on foot.
References1. By Zaian - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23413872
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