The cornerstone of Cape Town City Hall is laid

Cape Towns City Hall's original foundations were laid at the turn of the 20th Century. The mayor of Cape Town, Thomas Ball, laid the corner stone of the City Hall on 29 August 1900, but the hall was only opened in 1905. It was designed by architects Reid and Green from Johannesburg and was built in Italian Renaissance style, one of the last major Victorian buildings to be erected in Cape Town. It was built from sand stone and has 39 bells making it one of the largest carillons in South Africa. The City Hall overlooks the Grande Parade, flanked by Buitengracht & Darling Streets, the scene of many a military and political gathering. On 11 February 1990, only hours after his release from prison, Nelson Mandela made his first public speech after his release from the balcony of Cape Town City Hall to the crowd in the Grand Parade. Today the Grande Parade is used for parking and as a flea market venue, while the Cape Town City Hall is currently being used as the Cape Town Municipal library.