In 1882, a village management board was formed, and in 1886 it was replaced by the Municipality of Claremont, which managed neighbouring Newlands too. The privately owned Claremont Hall was taken over as a town hall. The first telephone system was installed in the early 1880s.

There was further residential development, with the subdivision of the Claremont House, Lansdowne, Milburn House, and Paradise estates in the 1890s. An electric tramway service was introduced in 1897, and an electricity power station was built in 1903.[14]

The Cape Town Opera House is a venue in Cape Town built in 1893, and at the time considered the finest theatre in the Southern Hemisphere.

The venue is also known as the Opera House, Cape Town.

The building was designed by G. M. Alexander, F.R.I.B.A., and built on the site of the present day main Post Office by W. Kitch for £40 000. The secretary for the Grand Parade Building Co. was E. R. Syfret, St George's Street.

When a large number of people gather together a certain amount of organisation naturally occurs. In Kimberley’s case, it began with the formation of the Diggers’ Committees which grew into the Town Council. Naturally the Town Council must have a building in which to hold meetings and house the staff. So it was in Kimberley but the first town hall did not last very long. A fire in 1898 destroyed most of the building and the twenty years of records in it.

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The Albany Drill Hall, Grahamstown, was built as the headquarters of the First City Regiment *?,

Mark Twain performed his At Home there in June 1896.

The hall is still used extensively for performances during the Grahamstown Festival.

ESAT

The Port Elizabeth City Hall, which is located in Market Square, was built between 1858 and 1862. The attractive clock tower was only added in 1883. The City Hall serves as a Council Chamber as well as a concert hall, a lecture hall and offices for city council employees.

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism

East London's first public hall, on the East Bank, the 'Mutual Hall', was completed in 1880. This picture of 1888 shows the 'Mutual Hall' on the left with the Municipal market building, with its bell, to the right. Note the hitching posts. (Source: East London Library)

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Artefacts

The historic town hall in Komani (Queenstown), which burned down a year ago, has still not been repaired. And police investigations into the fire have gone nowhere.

Built in 1882, the sandstone town hall is one of the historic heritage sites in the Eastern Cape. It used to house the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality offices and meetings of the town council.

GroundUp

Also referred to sometimes as the Town Hall. Built in 18* to a design by * . Utilized besides housing the municipal offices, the hall itself was utilized for political rallies, receptions, balls, musical and other entertainments, including ballet, opera and theatre.

ESAT

CALEDONIAN HALL, The, Pretoria. Originally built in 18** as ** and dance hall. Also used for plays, lectures and so on. ***** Mark Twain performed his At Home there in May 1896. *** (Fletcher, 199*) [TH]

ESAT