Wednesday was the final day of the six week period given to the Old Gaol Backpackers to vacate the premises.
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), informed the owner of Old Gaol Backpackers that they had to clear out by the end of March as the building is to be turned into an education centre.
Wednesday was the final day of the six week period given to the Old Gaol Backpackers to vacate the premises.
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), informed the owner of Old Gaol Backpackers that they had to clear out by the end of March as the building is to be turned into an education centre.
The Old Gaol Backpackers is currently in the process of consulting with lawyers to determine their fate. Almost 13 years ago the current tenant, Brian Peltason, opened up the Old Gaol Backpackers and since then it has become a vibrant and much desired destination for both the local Grahamstown community and travellers from all over the world.
According to an adamant Old Gaol supporter, "The Old Gaol is the most integrated place of Grahamstown, the best place to socialise ever and to meet all kinds of people.
It is THE place to be in this city and every time I come back to SA, I just come back to Grahamstown because of the Old Gaol, so please let’s keep this place and its great spirit alive, for the benefit of us all!"
The news of the Old Gaol closing down has sparked a massive public outcry from those loyal to the Old Gaol Backpackers.
Petitions have been placed in various places in Grahamstown and a Facebook site has been created, with more than 1000 members joining in only three weeks and with a current rate of an estimated 30 people joining daily.
"Agreed, education is important, and a place for it is needed. But is this a good way to treat this historic edifice, by converting it to classrooms, and, incidentally, making it unavailable to a public who would appreciate its history and honour it?
You are neither serving the people or education by closing the Old Gaol," says AMan Bloom on Facebook site protesting against the closure of the Old Gaol Backpackers.
According to their official website SAHRA’s role is "to provide for the identification, conservation, protection and promotion of our heritage for the present and future generations."
Before the backpackers moved into the premises it was in an extremely bad state as the rear section, now occupied by the backpackers, was empty.
According to Brian Jackson, a former member of the National Monuments Council, the building was in dire straits and in desperate need of a permanent tenant that would have minimal impact on the building.
"I was amazed at the transformation, it [the Old Gaol]had become a fun and vibrant place," Jackson said after returning to Grahamstown some years after the backpackers took over the premises.
Another Old Gaol supporter said: "The Old Gaol managed to turn a place of bleak and cold stone walls imbued with the desperate and sad memories of the historically dispossessed and alienated into a place of warmth, friendship and joy, representing an emerging new and vibrant cultural heritage that is sadly lacking in so many places which conventional museum can claim to have done this? "
In trying to contact SAHRA, whose Eastern Cape office in actual fact share the premises with the backpackers, Grocott’s Mail spoke to their Executive Officer of the Heritage Branch who is not prepared to comment.
SAHRA’s legal advisor, Michael Peterson is not prepared to comment either except to confirm that the plan to turn the premises into an education centre is correct but he will not confirm whether or not the funding for this project has been granted.
