Fagan’s work on the Dias Museum is remembered
Famous architect Gawie Fagan (95), who was involved with the restoration of the Dias Museum in Mossel Bay, died at his home on 13 September.
Fagan made an indelible mark on the landscape of Mossel Bay through his involvement with the Dias Museum. Well known for his restoration work that ensured that historic buildings remained preserved for posterity, his involvement with the Dias Museum also ensured that Mossel Bay residents could proudly remember the past through buildings that were initially not intended to be noteworthy historically.
Bartolomeu Dias sailed from Tagus in August 1487, and he and his men eventually set foot in what is today
Mossel Bay on 3 February 1488.
The Cape Sea Route established by Dias in 1488 changed the course of South African history. To commemorate this event, the Portuguese and South African governments built a replica caravel, guessing at the design, since no known plans had survived, and sailed it to Mossel Bay from Portugal.
Named the Bartolomeu Dias, the ship left Lisbon on 8 November 1987, arriving at Mossel Bay on 3 February 1988, exactly 500 years after Dias first arrived.
The city fathers at the time planned a museum to celebrate the landing of Bartolomeu Dias. Instead of erecting a new building on the historic site, as apparently, Fagan was requested, existing stone buildings were acquired and reworked, one to accommodate
Fagan made an indelible mark on the landscape of Mossel Bay through his involvement with the Dias Museum.
the caravel that sailed from Portugal for the occasion. A second building was turned into the Shell Museum.
The oldest building on the site was a granary, but it was demolished to make way for a modern factory. The foundation of this old granary was exposed after the factory was demolished, and a replica of the old granary was rebuilt according to specifications found in the Cape Archives.
Fagan will also be remembered fondly for his design of the main Post Office building in Marsh Street.
Mossel Bay commemorates Gawie Fagan's memory and his legacy that has preserved Mossel Bay's heritage for future generations.