During the 1920’s it become clear that the Hermanus Old Harbour was too small to accommodate the number of fishing boats using it, and they asked the then harbour master, Mr H R Hall, to prepare a report recommending a site for a larger harbour. The small cove he recommended to build the new harbor was known as “Still Bay”.
The plans were put into action to build a new harbour. These plans were put on halt as there was no funding available during what became known as the Great Depression of the 1930’s. It was only in 1939 that they could start with the construction of the southern breakwater (the present one), which again had to be placed on hold when a global war, known as World War II, broke out in 1939 and lasted until August 1945.
.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. Throughout its construction though, it had been used by trawlers and other boats and it also provided an excellent fishing zone. Most of the fisherman who used the Old Harbour moved across to the New Harbour.
Hermanus New Harbour is one of the thirteen fishing harbours in the Cape Province that are set for multimillion-rand facelifts over the next few years to develop the ports, create jobs and attract tourists to boost the local economy. The director-general of the Department of Public Works, Mziwonke Dlabantu, said critical projects that would be carried out at the harbours include repairing and upgrading slipways, dredging harbour basins, removing sunken vessels and installing new security measures. Hermanus New Harbour is set to be developed into a prime tourist destination as prime land overlooking the harbour will be developed for various tourist-related businesses. A mooring is also planned to accommodate extra fixed moorings and small leisure craft.
The plans were put into action to build a new harbour. These plans were put on halt as there was no funding available during what became known as the Great Depression of the 1930’s. It was only in 1939 that they could start with the construction of the southern breakwater (the present one), which again had to be placed on hold when a global war, known as World War II, broke out in 1939 and lasted until August 1945.
.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. Throughout its construction though, it had been used by trawlers and other boats and it also provided an excellent fishing zone. Most of the fisherman who used the Old Harbour moved across to the New Harbour.
Hermanus New Harbour is one of the thirteen fishing harbours in the Cape Province that are set for multimillion-rand facelifts over the next few years to develop the ports, create jobs and attract tourists to boost the local economy. The director-general of the Department of Public Works, Mziwonke Dlabantu, said critical projects that would be carried out at the harbours include repairing and upgrading slipways, dredging harbour basins, removing sunken vessels and installing new security measures. Hermanus New Harbour is set to be developed into a prime tourist destination as prime land overlooking the harbour will be developed for various tourist-related businesses. A mooring is also planned to accommodate extra fixed moorings and small leisure craft.
