Kalk Bay is adjacent to the historically connected suburb of St James, with the division between the two being largely formal. They share the Kalk Bay & St. James Ratepayers and Residents Association, which manages a heritage committee and co-operates with the government on matters of safety and conservation.[3]
In 2018 Forbes Magazine voted the neighborhood one of the "coolest in the world".[4][5]
History
A historic postcard of Kalk Bay
Early history
It is challenging to separate the history of the Kalk Bay area from the wider history of False Bay. It is likely that the Kalk Bay area was inhabited by Khoekhoe for thousands of years before white settlement, much like the rest of False Bay.[6]Middens found under cliff overhangs in the mountains on which Kalk Bay sits indicate they may have been used for shelter.[7]
The village of Kalk Bay was likely established in the 17th century. The first written mention of the name Kalk Bay came from Simon van der Stel in 1687.[8] Its name is derived from the Dutch and Afrikaans name Kalkbaai, translating to Lime Bay. This name likely emerged from the deposits of mussel shells which were burnt by early settlers to make lime.
The early fishing population of Kalk Bay consisted primarily of slaves from the British colony of slaves brought from Bengal, Indonesia, and Ceylon. They would gain their freedom in 1807, when slavery was made illegal in the British Empire. They were also largely Muslims, leading to the construction of a mosque in 1846.[6]
The Kalk Bay train line in 1883
Under British rule, whaling became an important industry within Kalk Bay. It began around the start of the 19th century, and drove human settlement in Kalk Bay. By the 1870s, whale stocks were so depleted that it became a secondary activity to fishing, and by the early 20th century the whale fishery collapsed.[6]
The population was bolstered by the arrival of Filipino fishermen in the 1850s, likely arriving from Simon's Town. The largely Catholic Filipinos are the origin the separation between Kalk Bay and St James, which contains the only Catholic church in the area.[6]
The railway line to St. James & Kalk Bay was opened in 1883, with construction beginning on the formal harbour walls in 1913.[7]
Attempts at dislocation
The "Fisherman Flats" from the harbour, identifiable by their red roofs and tan colouring
The passing of the Slums Act of 1934 called for the demolition of 'slums', and was applied with the intent of advancing segregation.[9] Within Kalk Bay, this led to the demolition of houses in an area known as Die Land. This housing was largely inhabited by the Coloured fishing population, due to its proximity to the harbour. The act did require for the construction of replacement housing, but this housing was usually segregated and built on the periphery of towns and cities.[10]
The population of Kalk Bay fought for replacement housing to be built in the same location and succeeded, leading to the construction of a set of flats on the cleared land, colloquially known as the "Fisherman Flats".[11]
In 1967, Kalk Bay was proclaimed a "White Area" under Proclamation 150 of the Group Areas Act. This led to significant protest within Kalk Bay, and a historically unique about-face in which the majority of Kalk Bay's non-White population was allowed to remain for 15 years. This 15 year deadline was never acted upon, meaning that most of the population remained. Roughly a quarter of families were evicted.[11]
Tourism
Kalk Bay harbour
The historically dominant fishing industry of Kalk Bay has largely been replaced by tourism,[12] driven by a few notable attractions.
Kalk Bay is home to a reef which forms a surf spot known as "Kalk Bay Reef". It is known for heavy barrels and the associated shallow reef, which makes it more hazardous than most popular surf spots. It is best surfed on a big south-easterly swell or a north west wind. In smaller swells low tide makes for better barrels. The waves are often good for surfing in the winter and early spring.
Another popular activity is whale watching, as Southern right whales migrate through False Bay during a few months of the year.
In addition, the mountains above Kalk Bay contains multiple hikes, being Echo Valley and Trappieskop (which translates from Afrikaans as steps hill). These are accessible from Boyes Drive, which runs across the mountain above Kalk Bay. These trails can be used to access sandstone caves known as "Boomslang Cave"[13] and "Ronan's Well",[14] popular among amateur cavers for their ease of access, relative safety, and simple layouts.
These caves are of importance to speleologists because they have formed in sandstone. Large cave systems are not often found in this type of chemically nonreactive rock.[15]
Coat of arms
Kalk Bay (including Muizenberg and St James) was a municipality from 1895 to 1913. The town council assumed a coat of arms, designed by Frank Newnes, in July 1901.[16]
The shield was divided horizontally. The upper half was divided vertically, depicting a fishing boat (partly obscured by a small shield) and eight fleurs de lis, while the lower half depicted a bunch of grapes. A small shield displaying an arum lily was placed in the centre.[17]
^Sharratt, Norma J.; Picker, Mike D.; Samways, Michael J. (2000). "The invertebrate fauna of the sandstone caves of the Cape Peninsula (South Africa): Patterns of endemism and conservation priorities". Biodiversity and Conservation. 9 (1): 107–143. doi:10.1023/A:1008968518058. S2CID28508022.
^Western Cape Archives : Kalk Bay Municipal Minutes (23 July 1901).
