Let’s take a walk down memory lane with these images of what Cape Town used to look like, with most of the images dating back as far as the early 1900s.
Here are 32 pics that are sure to bring back a sense of nostalgia for many:
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Michael-Fortune-St-James-Hotel-600x364.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Michael-Fortune-Jacobs-Ladder-1-600x906.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Steam-locomotive-at-Simonstown-mid-1920s-Harry-Valentine-600x386.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Arrival-of-the-first-trackless-trams-at-Cape-Town-docks-mid-1930s-Harry-Valentine-600x375.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Beach-and-Bathing-pools-Kalk-Bay-Michael-Fortune-600x379.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Kalk-Bay-Michael-Fortune-600x377.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Union-Castle-steam-ship-Raglan-Castle-which-was-built-during-1890s-at-Cape-Town-around-1901-.-.-the-ship-was-retired-from-sailing-during-1904-and-was-subsequently-used-for-floating-storage.-HV-600x385.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Roggebaai-beach-during-early-1930s-.-.-.-from-Scott-Atkinson-collection-600x351.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/On-rare-occasions-during-1980s-and-1990s-the-longest-buses-owned-by-SAR-were-seen-at-Cape-Town-station-Harry-Valentine.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/RUGBY-.-.-.-England-vs-Cape-Colony-during-1891-Harry-Valentine-600x416.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cable-Car-Undated-postcard-possibly-60s-From-my-collection-Martin-Greshoff-600x359.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/A-very-rare-photo-of-the-construction-of-Cape-Towns-2nd-Grand-Station-completed-in-1875.-Geoffrey-de-Vartek-600x460.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Mid-winter-flooding-along-Adderley-Street-during-1904-.-.-.-from-Hilton-Teper-collection-600x396.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cape-Town-pier-before-outbreak-of-WW1-.-.-.-fishing-boats-on-the-beach-at-Roggebaai-hv-600x337.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Main-Road-through-Somerset-West-during-early-1960s-.-.-.-from-Johannes-Koring-collection-600x371.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Beach-Road-Promenade-Michael-Fortune-600x379.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Mouille-Point-Light-House-Michael-Fortune-600x390.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Demolition-of-Cape-Town-pier-around-1939-.-.-.-from-Hilton-Teper-collection-600x759.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Political-activists-with-socialist-leanings-had-a-meeting-place-at-Cape-Town-during-early-1900s-600x363.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Camps-Bay-tram-terminus-around-1900-.-.-.-from-Janine-Pedersen-collection-600x450.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Newlands-Rugby-Stadium-Michael-Fortune-600x396.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Newlands-Swimming-pool-Michael-Fortune-600x403.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/he-Firemans-Arms-Hotel-Pub-opened-its-doors-in-1864-.-.-.-one-of-the-oldest-pubs-in-Cape-Town-600x360.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Military-parade-with-Wynberg-Dutch-Reform-Church-in-background-1910-From-my-collection-Martin-Greshoff-600x374.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Wreck-of-the-Antipolis-between-Camps-Bay-and-Hout-Bay-during-1977-.-.-.-from-Etienne-Du-Plessis-collection-600x429.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/The-Huguenot-Tunnel-during-construction-.-.-.-.-image-from-Concor-HV-600x779.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/HMS-Vengeance-arriving-and-HMS-Theasus-already-alongside-1948-Michael-Fortune-600x381.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Chapmans-Peak-looking-towards-Hout-Bay-the-Sentinel-Undated-postcard-Martin-Greshoff-600x398.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Sea-Point-Pavillion-1977-From-my-collection-MG.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/On-the-pavement-along-St.-Georges-Street-during-mid-1970s-.-.-.-from-David-OLeary-collection-HV-600x410.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Christmas-lighting-along-Adderley-Street-during-early-1960s-.-.-.-.-Johannes-Koring-collection-600x415.jpg)
![](https://www.capetownetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CENTAUR-1964-Blue-Funnel-Line-off-CApe-Town-dressed-for-her-departure-on-her-last-voyage-from-Cape-Town-to-Singapore-1-600x407.jpg)
Also Read:
Where to picnic with a view in and around Cape Town
Picture: Etienne Du Plessis collection – Cape Town Historic Society