A newly released book is shedding light on the rich and innovative history of Marina da Gama, South Africa’s first marina residential development, tracing its journey from a bold concept in the late 1960s to the thriving waterside community it is today.

Titled 50 Years On: The Marina da Gama Story, the publication is co-authored by Patrick McKenna, a long-time Marina resident and professional writer, and Gerald Rosenthal, a civil engineer who worked on the original project.

Origins of Marina

The 80-page, full-colour hardback brings together rare archival images, construction plans and historical material, offering readers a detailed look at the development’s origins and growth.

The story begins in 1968 during a reconnaissance flight over Zandvlei, where three key figures — Doug Hoffe of Anglo American’s property division, John Bridgman of Creative Homes, and David Jack — identified the potential for a marina-style residential area.

Their combined resources, expertise and vision led to the birth of what would become a groundbreaking development.

Engineering challenges

Over the next five years, the team transformed a windswept and largely uninhabitable sandscape between Prince George Drive and Lakeside into Africa’s first marina community.

The project introduced several innovations to South African residential development, including employing an ecologist and landscape architects, and marketing property as a lifestyle offering rather than simply housing.

The book details the immense engineering challenges faced during construction, particularly taming the strong south-easterly winds, managing water levels and building durable canal banks.

To address these, planners implemented creative solutions such as constructing protective sand dunes, planting between one and three million trees and introducing architectural guidelines designed to minimise wind impact.

Innovation and growth

One of the more unusual discoveries highlighted in the book involves two former Los Angeles firefighters, Frank Manwarren and Julian George, who developed a soil-cement technique for canal banks.

Their expertise was later brought to Cape Town, where they played a key role in shaping one of the Marina’s most distinctive features.

McKenna said the idea for the book was first sparked in 2019 after attending a talk by Rosenthal in St James.

“I was inspired by the planning team’s extraordinary skill and ambition,” he said.

“As the Marina approached its 50th anniversary, it became clear that this remarkable story needed to be documented.”

The publication also explores lesser-known aspects of the development, including Anglo American’s ambitious marketing campaigns and the creation of one of Africa’s largest plant nurseries to support landscaping efforts.

Lasting urban legacy

It further touches on the company’s withdrawal from the project in 1975, which resulted in only about 65% of the original vision being realised.

Beyond its historical value, the book highlights the broader impact of Marina da Gama on urban development in South Africa.

Members of the original planning team went on to contribute to major projects such as Mitchell’s Plain and the V&A Waterfront, while Rosenthal himself played a role in developing Century City.

Since its launch on 1 April, the book has already sold more than 250 copies, with plans for presentations and signings across the False Bay and southern suburbs.

It is currently available directly from the publisher, with wider retail distribution expected soon.

McKenna hopes the book will inspire readers, particularly residents, to appreciate the vision and determination behind the Marina’s creation.

“It remains one of the country’s most beautiful and vibrant waterside communities,” he said.

As Marina da Gama celebrates five decades, 50 Years On stands as a testament to innovation, collaboration and the enduring legacy of a development that helped shape modern urban living in South Africa.

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