Port Elizabeth of Yore: Park Lodge of Samuel Bain

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

The first sale of park lands took place on 16 September 1863. The income from the sale of the lots was to be used for the development and maintenance of the St. George’s Park. The first owners to build on these lots were Samuel Bain and William Pattinson. They were regarded as “living in the country” because their homes were some distance from the town.

This blog and subsequent blogs on houses in this street were supplied by Tennyson Smith Bodill for which I am grateful.

Main picture: This 1907 shows Samuel Bain’s house is on the left of Nazareth House  

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Opera House

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 Comments

The Opera House is the oldest theatre on the continent of Africa and the Southern Hemisphere. This special piece of World History is right here in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province.

In its final form, the Opera House might have only been opened in December 1892 but Port Elizabeth was not deprived of entertainment as its predecessor, the “New Theatre”  operated from 1862.

Main picture: Engraving of the Opera house soon after it was built in 1892

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