Old Harbour Museum
Scenic old harbour and Walker bay, early in the morning
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| Established | 13 June 1972 |
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| Location | Marine Drive / Market Square, Hermanus, South Africa |
| Collection size | approx. 2,700 objects |
| Visitors | 109,119 (2011–2012) |
| Website | www |
The Old Harbour Museum is a South African museum situated on the coast, in the heart of Hermanus. The town originally developed around this harbour from around the middle of the nineteenth century when plentiful fish and fresh water was found in the area. The Fishermen's Village section of the museum is situated above the old harbour across from Market Square.
The old harbour was declared a national monument in 1970 and is presently a Provincial Heritage Site. This unique site was proclaimed a province-aided museum two years later and the board of trustees endeavoured to conserve the area and develop displays in rebuilt old fishing shacks that depict the history of fishing and marine life in Hermanus.
In 1983 the board of trustees, through fundraising by the Friends of the Old Harbour Museum, bought the Fishermen's Village in the centre of Hermanus, opposite the old harbour and reconstructed the de Wet's Sunday school house that now contains a collection of photographs of old Hermanus.
In 1998 a whale house was completed across from this museum and the first phase, 'Welcome to our whale world' exhibition in the 3 official languages of the Western Cape was installed by 2007.
These three museums are open to visitors seven days a week and the market can operate Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, weather permitting.
Under Section 2 and 3 of the Museum Ordinance, 1968 (Ordinance 31 of 1968), the local museum at the old harbour in Hermanus, South Africa was officially proclaimed a provincial museum on 13 June 1972 by the then 'administrator of the province of the Cape of Good Hope, Mr. A.. H. Vosloo'.
This Western Cape Provincial Heritage Site (preciously a South African National Monument) is one of few fishing harbours in the world that has been conserved intact. It harbours a few historic fishing boats along the slopes, indigenous veldkos in old brine tanks and re-established coastal fynbos along the cliffs.
This area houses exhibitions portraying the contrast of the history of fishing since 1855 by the poor local fishermen versus angling by the wealthy holiday makers, taking place at the same harbour. It also houses seawater tanks with inter-tidal species, endemic to the area, the historic Bill Selkirk displays, a sono booth and a museum shop.
Research has been started by Western Cape Museum Service for the transformation of these exhibits. The exhibition named 'Fishing, Poverty and Politics' will consist of two sections including the natural and cultural history of the area.
This fish shack was rebuilt in 1995 as an environmental education centre but it was too cold and damp in winter. It now houses the boat storage shed. A section is used in public private partnership with Walker Bay Adventures doing sea kayaking trips with tourist departing from and returning to the old harbour.
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Wikipedia