Zandvlei Trust

The History of False Bay.

This extract from the notes of Paddy Killick.

False Bay was not used until 1671 when bad weather forced the Dutch ship, Isselsteijn, to call in at Simon’s Bay and reported that anchorage in False Bay was greatly superior to that of Table Bay. In 1682, "Steenberg" (Zwaanswyk), the first farm in the Constantia Valley was granted to a young Dutch widow, Catharina Ras, and in 1695 her farm produced the first wines.

In 1687 Simon van der Stel became the first Dutch official to extensively explore False Bay and the Cape Peninsula. The Cape lion and the Quagga (both extinct), elephants, hippos, eland, hartebeest, rhebok and other game were plentiful. The last Quagga died in 1875, when the last elephants departed over the mountains of Franschhoek. Simon van der Stel used to lead hunting parties from the Silvermine Valley, and Oliphantsbospunt, in the Cape of Good Hope area, was named as part of the elephant’s migration route.

Table Bay was not sheltered enough in Winter for sailing ships calling at the Cape. In 1737, nine ships were lying in Table Bay, richly laden on the return voyage to the Netherlands from India. A wild storm raged for two days and seven out of the nine ships were driven onto the beach near the mouth of the Salt River. The beach was strewn with a valuable cargo and 208 men were lost. Looters were hanged on the beach as a warning to others.

In 1741, the directors of the Dutch East India Company decreed that between May and August all ships would anchor in Simon’s Bay. Today Simon’s Town is the principal harbour of the South African Navy, and has many historic buildings. The other two major harbours are Kalk Bay and Hout Bay, also difficult to reach by land for hundreds of years. Ships sailed into Hout Bay for the precious cargo of abundant indigenous timber – hence the name (hout = wood).

The Dutch rule at the Cape ended in September 1795 after the Battle of Muizenberg, against invading British forces that landed at Simon’s Town. They used the wind to their advantage, bringing their heavily armed ships up to Muizenberg to bombard the Dutch encampment. The early Dutch defence at Muizenberg is still visible on the rocks near Bailey’s Cottage, whilst the later British defence can be found on the hillside across the road. Cannon balls from this historical battle are still being found in Muizenberg.

The Posthuys in Muizenberg was one of the early Toll customs houses built by the Dutch in the late 18th Century. Rhodes Cottage and the SA Police Museum can be found in a cluster of historic houses near the Natale Labia Museum.