donkin

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Construction on the Donkin

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, through the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) is busy with a upgrade of the Donkin Reserve and the historic buildings on it. Part of the project is the restoration and upgrading of the lighthouse and the old lighthouse keeper's building which acts as a tourist information office managed by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism. Work started on the project last week and is expected to be finished before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup…

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31/01/2010
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The Fort and a museum

I have posted various view from the top of the Donkin Lighthouse before, but here is one I haven't. Looking south, you can see Fort Frederick in the background between the apartment buildings while the light green building in the foreground is the Prince Alfred Guard Museum.

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23/12/2009
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Then and now from the Donkin Lighthouse

After my last venture up the Donkin Lighthouse, Sue sent me two old pictures that were taken from the lighthouse in the late 1800's. She asked me if I had any pics taken in the same direction to be able to compare. I didn't, but took Chaos Boy to climb the lighthouse on Saturday and took a couple. I am sure that I recognise the rusty roof house in both the old and new pics. There is another one which…

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24/11/2009
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The Hill

The area of Central just about the Port Elizabeth CBD used to be called The Hill in the early day. It was because the area is situated at the top of quite a steep hill and it was a struggle to get horse carts, ox wagons and even the tram up the steep bit to the top. This pic is taken from the top of the Donkin Lighthouse looking towards on of the older parts of Central. In the foreground…

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29/08/2009
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Donkin Reserve

Today we are back home after our "trip" covering all the towns surrounding Port Elizabeth. So just to start off on the home front again, I am featuring one of Port Elizabeth's iconic landmarks. The Donkin Reserve. On the Donkin Reserve visitors will find the Donkin Lighthouse as well as the Donkin Memorial Pyramid. The story of the pyramid goes as follow: Sir Rufane Donkin married Elizabeth Frances Markham in 1815 and barely 2 months later was posted to India.…

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07/07/2009
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Donkin Reserve view

The view from the Donkin Reserve looking towards the Port Elizabeth harbour. The building in the left bottom is the Opera House. There are three towers visible. From left to right they are the City Hall, the Old Post Office and St Augustine's Catholic Cathedral. The building with the little pointy bits along its edge is Plein Huis.

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05/05/2009
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Donkin Reserve tree aloe

This picture was taken facing away from the Donkin Pyramid and lighthouse towards Donkin Street. The church in the background is The Hill Prespetarian Church with the Donkin Street Houses from the middle to the right of the picture. The tree in the foreground is a Tree Aloe (Aloe barberiae), which is normally found in thickets, kloofs and savanna in the east of South Africa.

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28/03/2009
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Looking down from the top of the cliff

This is White's Road, from the edge of the cliffs in Donkin Reserve, just before sunrise. The jungle -like gardens along the side of the road give it a wonderful mysterious quality (warning to potential tourists... do not do this without your can of pepper spray handy!)

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29/01/2009