fbpx

History

hermanus history header

This gorgeous seaside town has a proud history dating back to the early 1800s when a man by the name of Hermanus Pieters followed a path etched into the ground by a herd of elephants. Hermanus Pieters was a traveling teacher and Sheppard who growing tired of his locality, made the decision to pack up and try somewhere new. He wandered south of Caledon along the elephant trail and ended up next to the sea where he discovered a fresh spring. Hermanus Pieters decided to set up camps here because of this spring and the fine grazing the land provided for his livestock. This beautiful setting became known as Hermanuspietersfontein (directly translated as Hermanus Pieters Fountain).

Remembrance Day: The Armistice was signed in November 1918, bringing an end to the First World War.

Remembrance Day: The Armistice was signed in November 1918, bringing an end to the First World War.

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died

The story of Wendy The Whale

The story of Wendy The Whale

Wendy the Whale is the story about a lone female southern right whale who gets beached on the shore of Hermanus, a small fishing town in South Africa and all the townspeople come together to help release her back into the sea.

Today [11 November 2018] marks 100 years since the Armistice was signed in November 1918, bringing an end to the First World War.

Today [11 November 2018] marks 100 years since the Armistice was signed in November 1918, bringing an end to the First World War.

Memorial services, parades and seas of red poppies pay tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives a century ago. We salute you!
In Hermanus this memorial service was held at the War Memorial - just above the Old Harbour

“Oom Otto” die storie van Sopiesklip in Hermanus

“Oom Otto” die storie van Sopiesklip in Hermanus

Jacobus Claude (Kowie) Otto wat destyds in die grot by Sopiesklip “gekampeer” het, was allermins ‘n kluisenaar of boemelaar soos wat dit uit verskillende oorde al beweer is.

Our Namaqualand Heritage - Namaqua Food Flavour

Our Namaqualand Heritage - Namaqua Food Flavour

During the years of the Great Trek from 1834 when the epic way from south to north was paved, old pioneer families were already fighting for survival in Little Namaqualand, south of the Orange River – known also as the Grootrivier and, long before that, as the Gariep.

Thar She Blows! The Old Whaling Station at Stoney Point, Betty’s Bay

Thar She Blows! The Old Whaling Station at Stoney Point, Betty’s Bay

Situated in Betty’s Bay and close to the Stony Point Penguin Colony, lies a site that was once a place of terrible cruelty and devastation, the Waaygat Whaling Station.  All that remains of the old whaling station, today, are the foundations of some of the main buildings....

The Forgotten temples in the Karoo

The Forgotten temples in the Karoo

Stone structures dot the veld in many locations throughout southern Africa. These were not given much thought in modern times, with landowners and archaeologists alike variously assuming that the structures were built as livestock enclosures, houses, game traps or even fortifications in the Boer War. 

The History of Fisherhaven

The History of Fisherhaven

Fisherhaven arose from the Afdaks River farm  - Fisherhaven is a small town in the Western Cape, South Africa on the banks of the Bot River lagoon

Hermanus had thirteen Hotels in the golden and olden days.

Hermanus had thirteen Hotels in the golden and olden days.

List of the Hotels and their locations. Quite amazing that Hermanus hosted so many hotels when it was just a little fishing village.

History of the Hermanus New Harbour

History of the Hermanus New Harbour

By the end of 1946 the southern breakwater was done, and it was only about ten years later, in 1951 that the new harbour, with its sharp cut into the sea from the headland where the factories today stand, was completed and fully operational.

Two sparrows on the Humblest Coin in South Africa

Two sparrows on the Humblest Coin in South Africa

Women survivors of Boer War Concentration Camps petitioned Prime Minister Jan Smuts to place the emblem of the humble sparrow on South Africa’s humblest coin. The coin would serve as a re- minder of our worth in the eyes of God

Genadendal - A small village with a mission in South Africa

Genadendal - A small village with a mission in South Africa

Genadendal translated to English and known as Valley of Grace and was established in 1738 by George Schmidt, a German Missionary, sent by the United Brethren (Moravian Church) to preach the gospel to the Khoi.

Hermanus, a popular a seaside village in South Africa

Hermanus, a popular a seaside village in South Africa

Nestled between lush green mountains and the turquoise ocean close to the southern tip of Africa lies the magnificent village of Hermanus.

Local Hermanus fisherman, Bill Selkirk, caught the world’s biggest man-eating shark with a rod and reel in 1922

Local Hermanus fisherman, Bill Selkirk, caught the world’s biggest man-eating shark with a rod and reel in 1922

In April 1922, Bill caught his record man–eating shark of 2,176 lbs (967 kg) which took him five hours to land with a rod and a reel. In 1969, Coena Haman gave a vivid description of this drama to a visiting reporter of Die Burger.

[12 3  >>  

Call us and schedule your listing today! Contact Us