New book on the Sunshine Coast

Hospitality industry will benefit from publication

Anew book, The Heart of the Sunshine Coast, on the history, developments, characters and attractions of Port Alfred, Kenton and Bathurst, is about to be published.

This will be welcome news to the hospitality industry, business community and other institutions in the area. The coffee-table edition, illustrated with maps and photographs, will be launched in November.

Such a publication is long overdue, according to Justin de Wet Steyn, developer of the Royal Alfred Marina. He said that a definitive book on Port Alfred was originally suggested by LTA chair, the late Dr Zach de Beer, at the sales launch party for the Marina at the Johannesburg Sun Hotel in 1987.

In his opinion, this would bring finality to the Basketwork Harbour book by Turpin as it would link the original harbour works and Kowie river canalisation of the early 19th century to the completion of the Royal Alfred Marina which would never have taken place if it were not for William Cock’s inspirational works.

“I have been looking for a writer and when I met David Hilton-Barber, owner of Footprint Press, I commissioned him to write the book. I have read his manuscript. It has my full support.”

Hilton-Barber, who is a relatively new resident in Port Alfred, has deep roots in the Eastern Cape. He was born in Grahamstown (Mahkanda) and studied for a BA (Hons) at Rhodes University. He trained as a journalist, following in the footsteps of his great grandfather, Frederick York St Leger, founder and first editor of the Cape Times.

The news was welcomed by Sue Waugh, manager of Sunshine Coast Tourism. “It will help put us on the map and I urge our members to have the book available for sale to their guests.”

Buffalo Kloof owners Warne and Wendy Rippon also endorsed the book. “We have guests from all over the world and they can spread the message far and wide,” she said.

43 Air School group of companies CEO Attie Niemann said: “We are training airline pilots, air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance engineers from more than 45 countries around the globe. What a great gift this book would make for sponsors, parents and these students when they finish their training, I would like to present each graduate with a copy.”

Stenden SA, the Netherlands-owned private university in Port Alfred, which caters for students from many countries, is another institution interested in the project. Executive dean Dr Wouter Hensens said the book would help to attract students.

To cover the cost of production, interested parties are asked to order and pay a special prepublication price of R650 per copy.

“Many institutions would be prepared to support this project by ordering bulk supplies,” Hilton-Barber said. “We aim to pre-sell 500 copies by the end of September, and I have every confidence that we can double that figure by the time the book is launched.” Interested parties can contact him at