Hermanus History and Heritage

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

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.

The old people called it Du Toit Street in earlier times as all the Du Toits were living there.

Waar kom die naam Sopiesklip vandaan?  Ek het al menigte stories gehoor oor Spoiesklip en waar die naam vandaan kom, en later besef… dit moes in verskillende tye gebeur het.

During the 1920s the Marine with its ballroom became extremely popular and many wealthy and famous people stayed there for  holidays.

Swallow arrived in Hermanus as a young teacher in the early1890s.  Until 1912 she spent her days in the old Dutch Reformed school and lived at the Sanatorium.

“Every town or village name has an origin. For many years a variety or stories were told about the name of Hermanus and the man Hermanus Pieters.