Whale Watching in Hermanus
Hermanus is regarded as the whale watching capital of South Africa. By Land - By Boat - By Air
Old Harbour in Hermanus
The Old Harbour Open-Air Museum is a provincial heritage site. It is unique in that apparently it is one of only two fishing harbours in the world that has been conserved in tact.
Hermanus Cliff Path
meanders for almost 11 kilometres along the coast from the New Harbour in the west to the estuary at the mouth of the Klein River in the east.
Hermanus Timeline
Hermanus and it's origin, the chronological time line of Hermanus
| 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 | |
Source
Book: Village of the Sea Arderne Tredgold
S.J du Toit
Old harbour Museum
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WHALE WATCHING
in and around Hermanus
With countless Southern Right Whales gathering along the Whale coast every year to mate and to calve
Shark Cage Diving
One for the Bucket list
Experience the exceptional and come face to face with a great white shark! Gansbaai also known as Shark Alley…
WINE TASTING
4 x Wine Routes
Hermanus is surrounded by 4 Wine routes, the Hermanus - (Hemel-and-Aarde); Stanford -, Elim - and Botriver Wine Route
Top Activities
in the Cape whale Coast
Hermanus is a spectacular seaside town with winding cliff paths, sloping green mountains, and deep blue waters.
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