Over the centuries, natural and historical events and extensive development have obscured Cape Town's original shoreline. This has influenced the city’s history and reconfigured the shape of the land that meets the water. And yet, it is a line rich with history, and contains layers of stories that have long been suppressed, overlooked, or left to lie in dusty drawers and family folklore.

The tour retraces the original shoreline, from the first making of the land to the present day – and beyond it, into the lessons changes to sea level hold for our future.

The Cape Town Heritage Trust is an independent, private-sector, non-profit organisation concerned with the conservation and enhancement of the man-made and natural environment and hence with the socio-economic advancement of the city and its people.

The Trust was established in 1987 by the Cape Town City Council with the backing of the Cape Provincial Administration. A number of buildings in Shortmarket and Hout Streets, originally acquired for road-widening purposes, were donated to the Trust. These properties were sold subject to conditions as to their restoration and conservation. The Trust is actively engaged in a partnership scheme with the Council and individual property owners for the upgrading of these streets and has already ensured the improvement of certain sections.