Originally a summer grazing area for livestock in the early 19th century, the area gained popularity as a place for local shepherds to live off the fresh fish easily caught from the expansive Walker Bay, where the town is now situated. Word spread and by mid-century a...
A sanatorium was built in the late 19th century by General Jan Smuts’ brother-in-law, Dr Joshua Hoffman and his brother Willem, which led to the notion that Hermanus’ ‘champagne air’ was able to cure a number of ills. This was converted to the Windsor Hotel at the...
Walter McFarlane and his brother-in-law Valentine Beyers bought land from Willem Hoffman to establish The Marine. Though modest, the hotel was much grander than their first property, the Victoria. The Marine had just 21 rooms and no running water or electricity in the...
The Marine was expanded to include more bedrooms, a bathroom block and a larger kitchen. The popularity of the hotel grew along with its reputation for hosting grand affairs in its ballroom for the wealthy and well-known. Among them was Sir William Hoy, who stayed at...
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