Port Elizabeth - Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa - City and Town Halls on Waymarking.com

Gqeberha, previously named Port Elizabeth is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa's second-smallest metropolitan municipality by area. It is the sixth-most populous city in South Africa and is the cultural, economic and financial hub of the Eastern Cape.

Port Elizabeth was founded in 1820 by Sir Rufane Donkin, who was the governor of the Cape at the time. He named it after his late wife, Elizabeth, who had died in India. The Donkin memorial in the CBD of the city bears testament to this. It was established by the government of the Cape Colony when 4,000 British colonists settled in Algoa Bay to strengthen the border region between the Cape Colony and the Xhosa. It is nicknamed "The Friendly City" or "The Windy City". In 2019, the Eastern Cape Geographical Names Committee recommended that Port Elizabeth be renamed Gqeberha, after the Xhosa and Southern Khoe name for the Baakens River that flows through the city. The city's name change was officially gazetted on 23 February 2021, although the new name remains poorly used locally as of 2023.

Port Elizabeth City Hall was designed by Mr. Robert Archibald, the town engineer and built between 1858 and 1862. Completion of the building revealed a two-storey rectangular building with a flat roof. No tower, spire or other disturbance pierced the sky. The attractive clock tower above the entrance was not added until 1883. The City Hall was proclaimed a national monument in 1973. It burnt down in 1977 and was rebuilt. A local consortium of architects, working with specialist architectural consultants, was appointed to redesign and restore the City Hall. The attitude towards restoration was that the facades be authentically restored and the interior designed in accordance with traditional Victorian detailing. Restoration work began in 1979 and was completed in November 1981. The City Hall currently serves as a Council Chamber as well as a concert hall, conference venue, a lecture hall and offices for senior city council employees. The Prester John memorial stands in Fleming Square next to the City Hall.

Port Elizabeth had its own municipality from 1843 to 2000. Since then, it has formed part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, and also serves as the seat for the surrounding Cacadu District Municipality. It has a Magistrate's Court, a local seat of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, and a branch of the Labour Court. As a result of the presence of a High Court, several other related organs of state such as a Masters Office and a Director of Public Prosecutions are present in the city. All Government (mostly provincial) departments maintain branches or other offices in the city.

Sources: Wikipedia (visit link) and (visit link)

Name: Port Elizabeth City Hall Address: Court St, Port Elizabeth Central, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa 6001 Date of Construction: Built between 1858 and 1862 rebuilt after fire in 1977 Architect: Robert Archibald Memorials/Commemorations/Dedications: Prester John Memorial Web Site for City/Town/Municipality: [Web Link]

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