The demolition of Central Buildings has brought about a massive response from both citizens of Port Elizabeth, the wider national Heritage bodies and ex Port Elizabethans, internationally. The shock and sadness still continues.
I was devastated to witness this demolition as I have been fighting; for these buildings since 2005.
In 2005 I arrived as curator of No7 Castle Hill Museum. I was informed by an ex curator that this position also entailed being custodian of Castle Hill, which I understood fully, as this is an important historical precinct. I was in constant communication with the Anton Rupert Foundation, which later became Stellenbosch Heritage Houses, as the two cottages below The Summit , belong to this trust.
The offices of Mr Denton (owner of The Summit and Malbador) were contacted, almost on a weekly basis, and each contact recorded in the diary.
The Summit and Malbador were constantly under our watchful eyes. When I arrived at in 2005, these two buildings were quite habitable, in fact we considered moving into one of them.
The Summit (The Heritage Portal)
Whenever windows were broken, vagrants were discovered in the buildings, fires set alight, I would contact the owner. I had wonderful co-operation by the police force to begin...
