Strand, Western Cape
Strand | ||
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PO box 7139 | ||
Area code | +27 (0)21 |
Strand (
Strand is often referred to as The Strand (Afrikaans: Die Strand), which is the old name of the town.
The vehicle registration code for Strand is CEY and the postal code for street addresses is 7140.
History
Strand was established as a holiday and fishing resort in 1714.
Strand is administered by the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality. It is in close proximity to the inland town of Somerset West. Recent expansion and development of both towns has resulted in the two now being adjacent to each other, with shopping malls and residential complexes creating the connections. The unofficial divide between the two towns is the national road which bisects them, the N2. Strand forms part of the Helderberg Basin, along with Somerset West and Gordon's Bay.[2]
Strand offers white-sand beaches and views of the Cape Peninsula. During the summer, tourists from other parts of South Africa, including Johannesburg, and abroad, come to enjoy the seaside offerings. Tourism has been a major source of local income since 1950,[citation needed] when the town was popular with visitors from the north of the country, and was home to many retired veterans of the Boer War.[citation needed] There is a train service from Strand to the CBD of Cape Town.
Strand also used to accommodate one of the largest dynamite factories in South Africa, owned by the AECI group. This area is being redeveloped into a large new mixed-use urban development, Paardevlei, and current tenants include Cheetah Outreach.[citation needed]
Tourism
The main beach in the Strand, Melkbaai Beach, is a safe bathing area. Facilities on or nearby this beach include Waterworld with a supertube and
Strand has a wide variety of organised sport including a
Strand also has an
Surfing
Surfing is a popular water sport in Strand, despite the possibility of sharks. These spots are reportedly[by whom?] much easier and safer to surf than other offshore surf spots on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Cape Peninsula, owing to the protection that False Bay offers.[citation needed]
Central business district
The town has a
Strand's central business district is entirely surrounded by Strand North and Strand South. Strand Beach Road is divided into three sections - the Golden Mile (also known as Melkbaai) is located between Lourens River and Hibernian Towers (cnr. Beach Road and Sarel Cilliers Road), the central part of Beach Road stretches between Sarel Cilliers Road and the Pavilion complex, whilst the Platinum Mile is located along Blakes Beach and between Odeon Towers and the Ocean View Hotel.[citation needed]
Industry
Strand has its industrial areas, mostly spread along the south side of the N2, including Gants Plaza, Broadlands, and a development near Paardevlei. More recently, Gants Plaza has increasingly been accommodating non-industrial businesses, including the local newspaper, the District Mail / Distrikspos.
In winter there may be a low inversion layer covering the town, resulting in some degree of pollution. This is rarely seen, however, because of the prevalent winds that keep Strand's skies clean.[citation needed]
Education
The town has primary, secondary and tertiary
Primary schools
- Dr. G.J. Joubert
- Hendrik Louw Primary School
- Laerskool Lochnerhof
- Loreto Primary School (Strand)
- Strand Muslim Primary School
High schools
- False Bay High School
- Gordon Hoërskool
- Hoërskool Strand
- Hottentots-Holland
- Khanyolwethu Secondary
- Madrasatyr Rajaa Sekondêr
- Rusthof Sekondêr
- Simanyene Secondary
- Strand Sekondêr
- Hoërskool Valsbaai
- Mills Street Art School
Tertiary institutions
List of suburbs
Coats of arms
The Strand was a municipality from 1897 to 1996. During that period, it used two coats of arms.
Municipal (1) — The first coat of arms was assumed on 24 February 1927.[6] The shield was divided in two by a vertical line, and displayed a golden sun on a blue background, and a fish on a background of wavy silver and blue stripes; across the top of the shield was a golden stripe bearing three red towers. An anchor was placed behind the shield. The motto was Inspirata floruit.
Municipal (2) — In March 1955, the council approved a new version of the arms, by Ivan Mitford-Barberton. It registered them with the Cape Provincial Administration in August 1955[7] and at the Bureau of Heraldry in October 1993.[8]
The new shield of arms was: Per fess, Azure and barry wavy Argent and Azure, on a fess Gules, between in chief a demi-sun issuant and in base a fish naiant, three towers, Or. In layman's terms, the shield was now divided into three horizontal bands, displaying (1) a golden demi-sun on a blue background, (2) three gold towers on a red background, and (3) a golden fish on a background of wavy silver and blue stripes. A crest consisting of a red anchor on a golden mural crown was added. The motto remained the same.
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Main Place Strand". Census 2011.
- ^ a b "Official planning suburbs". Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Strand". Southern Africa Places. Retrieved 2006-10-15.
- ^ "Strand". Southern Africa Places. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
- ^ "SA History". South African History Online. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ Western Cape Archives : Strand Municipal Minutes (24 February 1927).
- ^ Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette 2771 (19 August 1955).
- ^ http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za[permanent dead link]
External links
- The Strand Website
- Photo of busy Strand beach
- History, information and pictures
- The District Mail, regional newspaper
- The Strand Site