ARNISTON - COASTAL JEWEL
BY THE SEA
ARNISTON, jewel of the southern coast, lies near the tip of Africa. This is the coast that ancient mariners held in dread, the coast that they believed lured ships to their graves. Once isolated and in an area marked on early maps as “Onbekende land” (unknown territory), it has a haunting beauty that grows upon those who come to know it.
The Arniston 1815-2015 marks the 200th anniversary of the day The Arniston, which ran aground in a south-easterly gale on May 30, 1815 with the tragic loss of 372 men, women and children.
Forty years later, people came to live in the sheltered coves not far from where The Arniston had met her end.
The small community, those from various walks of life, had found their way to the sea where they could sustain themselves as fishermen. They used lines and stone fish traps, and later, nets and in time they acquired boats, which they would row and sail further out to sea. Gradually, the community grew and prospered.
Journey through time, and discover the origins of this little fishing village. Explore the ship itself through its detailed plans and read up on the fate of its doomed crew members, from the captain, George Simpson, to a mother who had lost four of her sons, aged between seven and 13 years old.
Famous landmarks such as the Arniston cave, rich in prehistoric artefacts, and the first limestone house built by George Fairchild, which would later become Erf 49 and later declared a national monument, are just a few of the interesting places giving Arniston a historic importance – having the unfortunate record of being home to the greatest number of shipwrecks in southern Africa.
The book also tells of the many disasters that have taken place offshore, including the Zoetendaal, a 44-ton Dutch East India Company flute, the first recorded Strandveld wreck.
The Arniston 1815-2015 deals with the early days of the village, its development, its character and the lives and fishing tales of the fishermen and their families. With in-depth stories from a handful of the town’s inhabitants, restaurant and hotel owners, as well as community leaders, describe their love for their hometown.
The cost of this book has been fully covered by donations, and as a result of the generosity, all revenue generated from sales will be made available for educational bursaries for the fishing community.
In essence, though, this is the story of a picturesque fishing community that has retained its character and of a beautiful holiday village, where all live in harmony and where English and Afrikaans are equally home.
Journey through time, and discover the origins of this little fishing village with famous landmarks