Another of my easy caches placed more for the
historical interest than the ability to hide and find!
The Simon's Town skyline has since 1902 been
marked by the aerial cableway which linked the dockyard to the
Naval sanatorium on Red Hill overlooking the town.
Effectivily this was quickest way up until a motor roadway was
constructed in 1932 and the cableway then ceased
operations.
The building of the Naval Sanatorium on the Klaver
Valley plateau above Red Hill enjoyed the full use of the Aerial
Ropeway. A rough temporary tramway from the Hospital to the
Sanatorium had previously been built to transport materials for the
foundations. Once the more permanent Aerial Ropeway was in
operation, it was used to transport materials, equipment and
labour. The Aerial Ropeway was of great advantage as negotiating
the steep slopes and poor roadway had been extremely
time-consuming.
The Sanatorium was a convalescent unit for the
recuperation of sick and injured seamen. Besides the cable car, the
only access to the Sanatorium was via a long walk up the
bridle-path, or a steep climb up several hundred steps. Thus a
simple but effective way of keeping the patients away from the
numerous public houses in the town was achieved.
