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KNYSNA NEWS - Woodmill Lane Shopping Centre in Knysna celebrated its 30th birthday last Friday, 27 November, with live music, market stalls, and various other entertainment open to the public.
The special event was held in the centre's courtyard area and saw live music from locals Baden Hall and Elron van der Berg, and The Voice season 1 winner, Richard Stirton.
Other entertainment included stilt walking by Raol the Owl, fire breathing and dancing by Jade Brandhorst, as well as a modelling event by Ace Models Knysna and Sedgefield.
The festivities started in the early evening and continued into the night.
The centre, built on the site of Knysna's old sawmill belonging to Geo Parkes and Sons, opened in December 1990. The first sawmill was built by the Knysna Steam Sawmills Company in 1875. It was purchased by George Parkes, chairman of the Birmingham company, AF Parkes & Co. Ltd, in 1891.
Photo gallery; Woodmill Lane celebrating 20 years of shopping
The Voice Season 1 winner, Richard Stirton. Photo: Blake Linder
The newly registered Knysna Forest Company took over operation of the sawmill in 1892. When the company went into liquidation, Parkes bought out all the shareholders and, from 1902, operated under the name George Parkes & Sons.
In 1919, a new brick building with an iron roof was constructed. Its rounded gables on the eastern façade are still a recognisable feature of Woodmill Lane today.
Due to Knysna's rapid expansion, the sawmill moved to the local industrial area in 1984, and this saw the closure of the mill at Woodmill Lane. Six years later, Christopher Harison Edwards (son of Aorea Thesen), a consulting engineer, designed and developed the shopping centre, which has been in operation for the past 30 years.
The familiar sound of the hooter that was used to signify the start of the working day, lunch break, and closing time at the old sawmill, still rings out at Woodmill Lane every day at 12:00.
Jade Brandhorst entertained with his fire breathing and dancing. Photo: Blake Linder
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