Regarding the origin of the name of the town, there are a few speculations. One is that Captain Jeffrey's sailed South Africa's east coast in the 1840s for trading purposes. When his crew members were struck by scurvy, he landed his ship on the primitive coast, now the main beach of Jeffrey's Bay. Ten years later, he bought erven 1, 2, 9 and 10 for 79, and built their home on the corner of Woltemade and Jeffrey's Streets. When the prominent Reilly family arrived in the area in 1928, they reportedly used the original timber from Captain Jeffrey's ship to build their home, even preserving the 150-year old barometer.
There were other people called Jeffrey's in that area of South Africa at that time, one been a prominent trader that based himself in the Eastern Cape in the 1850s and the other a whale hunter from St Helena, who used Jeffery's Bay as a harbour and trading post.
The land that Country Feeling is standing on today belonged to the Reilly's who build a Wimpy Bar on it during the 1960s which was demolished in 1964 to make place for a double story residential flats that included a tea garden and gift shop on the same property.
In the 1850s the best know hotel in Jeffrey's Bay history was constructed, first called the Jeffrey's Bay Hotel and in 1937 renamed The Savoy, it was demolition in 1968 along with a part of Jeffrey's Bay history.
Perhaps more important is the historical finding of the waves that have put Jeffrey's Bay on the international map of the surfing world. It is generally believed that the legendary John Whitmore, known as the father of South African surfing, discovered the waves along the coast while travelling the Garden Route on a business trip in the 1950s. He watched the world-famous waves roll onto the shore in awe. Since then, Jeffrey's has consistently performed at equally impressive levels for the surfing community and the international Billabong Pro competition.
There were other people called Jeffrey's in that area of South Africa at that time, one been a prominent trader that based himself in the Eastern Cape in the 1850s and the other a whale hunter from St Helena, who used Jeffery's Bay as a harbour and trading post.
The land that Country Feeling is standing on today belonged to the Reilly's who build a Wimpy Bar on it during the 1960s which was demolished in 1964 to make place for a double story residential flats that included a tea garden and gift shop on the same property.
In the 1850s the best know hotel in Jeffrey's Bay history was constructed, first called the Jeffrey's Bay Hotel and in 1937 renamed The Savoy, it was demolition in 1968 along with a part of Jeffrey's Bay history.
Perhaps more important is the historical finding of the waves that have put Jeffrey's Bay on the international map of the surfing world. It is generally believed that the legendary John Whitmore, known as the father of South African surfing, discovered the waves along the coast while travelling the Garden Route on a business trip in the 1950s. He watched the world-famous waves roll onto the shore in awe. Since then, Jeffrey's has consistently performed at equally impressive levels for the surfing community and the international Billabong Pro competition.
About the Author:
Andrew Keet has lived and travelled up and down the East Coast of South Africa for almost 50 years, one of his favorite towns is Jeffrey's Bay where he always takes a break to do some Jeffrey's Bay surfing.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment