Below are the details of talks hosted by the Kalk Bay Historical Association. The talks are open to any member of the public. Non-members are asked for a donation of R20.00. The association welcomes new members and application forms are available at all meetings of from Steve Herbert - arcadia@49er.co.za. The Association's numerous publications may be purchased at the meetings. Please direct any inquiries to Derek Stuart-Findlay - 021 788 2502.

1. MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY: CAPE PENINSULA WRECKS AND SALVAGE (Part 1)

DATE: Tuesday 29 May at 8pm

VENUE: Kalk Bay Community Centre

SPEAKERS: Gary Mills

Over the centuries the notorious Cape of Storms has been the graveyard of scores of ships and claimed hundreds of lives and tons of valuable cargoes. It is also the place where deliberate sinkings have occurred (obsolete naval craft) and ammunition has been dumped. It is therefore a rich maritime archaeological environment. This talk will focus on a selection of sailing ships that rounded Cape Point and met their fate – through human error or plain ignorance – along the False Bay and Atlantic Deep South coastlines during the late 18th – early 19th centuries. Later talks will deal with the wrecks of steamships and naval craft.

Gary Mills is a professional diver and has explored dozens of wrecks, photographed them, and retrieved items of value. He will give an illustrated talk that will also take us underwater to the various sea-graves.

2. THE STORY OF THE BEACH BATHING BOXES

DATE: Tuesday 31 July at 8pm    

VENUE: Kalk Bay Community Centre

SPEAKER: Barrie Gasson

Contemporary beach bathing boxes had their origins in 19th century coastal resorts of W Europe and N America where horse-drawn bathing huts assured swimmers of their privacy while changing and bathing. Gradually these were replaced by permanent structures located above the high-tide line which became part of the coastal resort scene together with piers, pavilions and promenades. Many Cape Peninsula resorts copied these examples. Today the remaining Peninsula bathing boxes seem somewhat anomalous although picturesque and much photographed. Their utility, purpose and survival in the 21st century are frequently the subject of debate.

Barrie Gasson will trace this history in an illustrated talk.

3. HARRIS & LADAN ROAD AREA, KALK BAY: A SOCIAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

DATE: Tuesday 30 October at 8pm

VENUE: Kalk Bay Community Centre

SPEAKER: Steve Herbert

This small area of Kalk Bay, bordering ‘Die Land’ and the Bible Institute, and bounded by Clairvaux and Main Road, comprises some of the earliest land subdivisions in Kalk Bay. Most of the houses that went up in this almost forgotten and somewhat inaccessible part of the village were small and built for rental. It was home to many of the early Kalk Bay ‘names’.

Steve Herbert, continuing his history of Kalk Bay series, will explore the story of this area drawing from title deeds, house plans unseen for 100 years, biographies and anecdotes.

4. HISTORIC MOVIE: ‘THE END OF THE LINE’

DATE: Tuesday 26 February 2019 at 8pm    

VENUE: Kalk Bay Community Centre

This 98 minute video covers the history of the Union Castle Line from the 1850s to 1977 when the departure of the Windsor Castle from Table Bay closed this chapter of maritime history. Commentary is provided by Laurens van der Post, interspersed with interviews with George Young (Cape Times Shipping Correspondent) Sir Nicholas Cayzer (last Director of Cayzer Irvine), and numerous ships’ Captains and Pursers. The film is a must see for those who travelled by sea in those times.