You are here: Home Blog Hermanus Timeline

Hermanus Timeline

Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Author: Jeanette
Page Views: 17795

DATE		DESCRIPTION
1600’s		(Quenna (Khoi-Khoi) tribes still live in this area
1724		Jan Cloete obtained first grazing rights to Mosselrivier farm
1731		Grazing rights granted in vicinity of Kleinriviervallei granted to Frederick Keyser
1764		Grazing rights on Bosch Rivier to Wessels Wessels, incl area at the mouth of the lagoon extending E of Hermanus to beyond Mossel Rivier. Subsequent grazing rights to Kleinriviervallei (vicinity Stanford) included Jeremias Auret and Christoffel Brand
1787		Bosch Rivier granted to Hendrick Cloete of Groot Constantia. There were no buildings on it at this time (his lovely oxen farm)
1790's		Jan Cloete He builds the Mondhuis – the first holiday home in the aea
1798		Lady Anne Barnard rests at Mondhuis for lunch en route to Drupkelder. Lady Anne Barnard describe the mondhuis: Buildings described as “two small rooms and a nasty little kitchen.” (Burman 17982)
1817		Leper Colony established in Hemel-en-Aarde - DR John Barry
1820's		Hermanus Pieters an itinerant teacher of the district of Caledon. Here he found a fresh water spring at the coast. The place became known as Hermanuspietersfontein
1837		Hermanus Pieters dies at Boontjieskraal
1839		Mossel Rivier sold to Alewyn Johannes Smit. Presence of fishermen and lime burners. Growth of fishermen’s informal housing close to the sea
1845		Leper Establishment move to Robben Eiland
1852		HMS Birkenhead meets it fate at Danger Point, Gansbaai (shipwreck)
1854		12 Plots surveyed by CR Borcherds. The first 9 plots lay opposite the spring along the NW side of present Marine Drive from Ficks Pool to present Main Road, Hermanus.
1855		First Hermanus Pietersfontein plots sold at Caledon and a town was born. Hermanus and it's origin
1855		Johannes Michael Henn purchased 1/9 plots at an auction in Caledon for one pound 4 shillings.
1857		Michiel Henn and family moved from Herriebaai to settle in Hermanuspietersfontein
1858		First child born in Hermanuspietersfonein - James John Warrington
1860		Michiel Henn buys a plot of land and an early cottage at Hermanus – situated opposite the present Swallow Park.
1860		Duncan McFarlane built second holiday home - The Homestead (Nurses home)
1860		Hawston subdivided
1861		First Map - CR Borcherds
1868		A small building, a "palehuis", was built, to be both English church and school and it was called after the patron saint of fishermen, St. Peter
1870		Allengenski Complex built - Today Lemm's Corner
1875		31 July 1875, a "Certificate of Reservationas Commonage" was issued by the Surveyor_General by which "certain Crown Land a64 morgen, sitiated in the Village of Hermanuspietersfontein"
1878		A Small building was erected to serve as a Ditch Reformed Church and School
1897		St. Peter's Mission School and the Dutch Reformed Church School united to form the "Public School".
1890’s		Walter.McFarlane decided to enlarge his cottage and about 1890 turned it into a small hotel. It was known as the Victoria Hotel, later the name was changed the name to Astoria Hotel
1891		First Village Manage Board established
1896		Dr. Joshua Hoffman of Stellenbosch, decided to make use of the bracing quality of hte air of Hermanuspietersfontein and he built a Sanatorium on the westcliff.
1901		Mayflower Fishing vessel miraculously saved in stormy seas.
1902		Hermanuspietersfontein name changed to Hermanus - it was shortened by the Post Master from Hermanuspietersfontein to Hermanus
1902		McFarlane and Beyers built the Marine Hotel
1902		Railway line to Bot River – post cart to Hermanus introduced
1903		Onrusrivier village established
1904		Municipal status for Hermanus
1904		Old Harbour wall was built
1912		Motor transport introduced – buses and lorries
1912		First proper school built (Stone school next to koppie)
1915		Crane was built in the Old harbour to assisit with fishing boats
1928		Miss Rubery begin Cypress Tree Tea Room (Today the Burgundy Rerstaurant)
1930		Sir William Hoy buried on koppie (Hoy’s Koppie)
1930		Synagogue was built in the Main Road
1935		Gutting tables were built in Old Harbour
1940		Hermanus, Poole’s Bay and Mosselrivier amalgamated into one municipality
1951		New harbour completed
1957		First residents in Zwelihle
1958		Last fishing boats in Old Harbour
1960's		Southern Right Whales started to visit Walkerbay
1961		Library was build in Harbour Road
1970		Old Harbour declared a National Monument
1974		Provincial hospital opens its doors
1976		De Bos Water and Preekstoel purifying scheme completed
1977		Huis Lettie Theron opens its doors
1977		New high school building completed
1987		De Wets Photo Museum – cottage moved from DRC site to Lemm’s Corner
1994		Overstrand Municipality established
1995		Hermanus Medi Clinic opens
1995		First Passion Play in the old harbour