What is up good people? As you know, I work in a fancy antique store, here in Cape Town. What you probably don't know, is that the shop is in a pretty dodgy, up-and-coming area, as the real estate vultures call it. I'd like to share some info on the history of Woodstock, and photos I snapped of the graffiti in the area I work in.

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Not all of Cape Town is pretty mountains and rolling ocean. We have some very poor areas, and some extremely dangerous areas. Woodstock is special to me, as I have worked, loved and partied hard in the hood over the last ten years. I even got married there.

Woodstock is just outside of the centre of Cape Town, and during apartheid was one of the only suburbs that stayed integrated. It actually has a super interesting history.

In the 1800's, Woodstock was marketed as a seaside resort suburb, being very close to central Cape Town, and right on the beach. In 1862, (don't forget how new South Africa is as a country compared to European and even American cities) the first railway line was built in South Africa, stopping in Woodstock. Woodstock and the neighbouring suburb, Salt River (nowadays, almost the same area) became one of the largest settlements in the Cape Colony.

^{The beach long, long ago. This is all train tracks and industrial factories now - Source}

In the early 1900's, Woodstock became increasingly industrialised, changing the face of Woodstock forever. More on that later.

In 1937 a huge land reclamation took place, creating what is Cape Town's Foreshore area today. What does this mean? The urban planning department of the then government dredged and filled the wet areas with land, creating the southern hemisphere's largest dry dock. They physically created land where there was once water!

^{On the left you can see what the Foreshore looked like before 1945, and on the right, what it looks like today. I work a bit left of E. Source}

^{It's a bit more clear here. I work just above where the maps says "ALBERT ROAD". That was all beach once upon a time! Source}

^{The construction of the Foreshore and the huge highways that take up most of it - Source}

^{What it looks like today. Strange to think of how many times I driven on these roads - Source}

Later, during Apartheid years, the President PW Botha, wanted to turn Woodstock into a coloured area. FYI - In South African Apartheid years, Coloured was (still used today) a term for people of mixed race, normally of Cape Malay descent. Cape coloured people have one the craziest cultures ever, diverse, and so proudly South African. There was major protest at this idea, and it did not happen. Woodstock remained a racially integrated area all through out Apartheid, but was never declared as such.

A humorous look at Cape Coloured language:

^{AWEH MAY BRU - Source}

The increased industrialisation of Woodstock continued, taking up most of the lower part of Woodstock. Factories, many, many clothing, furniture and other sorts opened, and continue to operate in the area. Woodstock became a dirty, industrial area, quite poor, and not very safe. Crack houses and prozzies were all over the place

The early 2000's brought a few advertising agencies, furniture and antique shops (mine was one) to the area. Still not safe, but getting better. Early adapters bought houses in the area, at cheap, low prices.

It all kind of changed when the Biscuit Mill opened. The Biscuit Mill is a hipstery type market, with things like artisanal bread and veggies and all that sort of crap. It also houses the Test Kitchen, one of the top rated restaurants in South Africa. Regardless of my personal feelings towards the market, it definitely brought an air of change, and for lack of a better word, gentrification.

In my opinion, this is a natural progression. The Western Cape is the only province governed completely by the DA (Democratic Alliance - the ANC's major opposition). With that comes a naturally more progressive and developed city, and so there are thousands of people from all over the country moving to Cape Town. The city bowl is full, full, FULL, expensive AF, and it just makes sense that the surrounding areas becomes developed.

This does bring with it a lot of uprooting of poorer residents, and here in South Africa, there is just nowhere to go for the poor people who are in this situation. I don't know how I feel entirely about this, as I cannot stand to see people suffer. A prime example is the case of a poor family who have rented a house their entire lives, and when the ownership changes, they cannot afford the new rentals and must move to the poorer areas without the benefits such as parks, clinics etc.

I do however, firmly believe in Capitalism and the Free Market (I am on Steemit, right?!) This is just the way the world works. I believe that if I have the rights and means to buy a property, I should be allowed to do so. I would say that it is up to the tenants and former landlord, or person I am purchasing from, to find a new place to stay.

Anyway. That is a discussion for another day.

Woodstock is still a bit dirty, definitely not safe at night, and only slightly safe during the day. I consider myself pretty street smart, and have made friends with all the neighbouring businesses and their employees, so I also consider myself safe.

Most of the buildings in my road have been sold, cleaned up and converted into retail, office or business premises. On my way to my favourite fish shop (I posted about that here) the other day, I snapped some images of graffiti in the area. It's really cool. I love walking in that area.

These photos may look familiar to any of you who have seen my wedding photos:

I really hope you have enjoyed my long look at Woodstock and it's wonderfully colourful history. I love history and surprisingly know a bit about Cape Town and it's history, so feel free to ask me anything in the comments.

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