Samba Gutter is located in an area that was historically marshland, locally known as ‘grasslands’. The gutter was first called Sander’s gutter which gradually changed to Samba and is located within the boundaries of Pademba road, Dundas street and Sanders street. In the 1850s the marshland was properly drained and later on a formal gutter was built to relieve the area of heavy flooding. The area cleared by the first British slave traders made way for additional housing around the docks for their companies around the new gutter. With the seasonal flooding managed, the area became more and more appealing to settlers leading to its built-up current state.

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With increasing deforestation and heavier rainfall during the monsoon season; even formal drains such as samba gutter suffer from annual flooding. The rainwater forms a thick sludge with uncompacted soil creating huge thick lava like torrents, bringing boulders, and even cars from upstream down through the gutter.  Increasingly larger amounts of rubbish create bottlenecks stymieing the flow of rainwater into  Kroo Bay.  Thus a seasonal community-led clean up operation is necessary for the residents to rebuild their homes and environs.

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Charles’ family have owned their old Board House plot for several generations.  As an entrepreneur he uses the large site to house several business from accommodation, to a bar and even a cinema. These businesses adapt as their commercial viability does. He is currently operating a timber mill in the large shed, built on stilts to accommodate the annual seasonal flood level of Samba Gutter, which approximates 5ft. After each monsoon there is a community-wide clearance of the gutter which overflows with thick sludge, boulders, rubbish and even cars.