According to the Fish Hoek Valley Museum, the first caravanners in Fish Hoek arrived in the late 1940s. According to a newspaper clipping from the Cape Argus, dated December 30, 1948, “A caravan camp occupied by more than a dozen vehicles has sprung up within a stone’s throw of the sea at Fish Hoek this year.” However, it seemed that the trend was short-lived as, according to an article in the Cape Argus, dated October 12, 1951, the Fish Hoek Town Council had decided to prohibit camping on the foreshore from July 1, 1952 due to complaints that had been received of inadequate washing and sanitary facilities for the hordes of campers. Picture: Fish Hoek Valley Museum.A recent photograph of the area near Fish Hoek Beach that housed the caravan park.The Glencairn Hotel, now Deep South Eatery, is a well-know landmark in the far south. According to Deep South Eatery’s website, it was built in 1904 and 1905 by Scottish architect John Parker. The Glencairn Hotel has survived much adversity over the years. After seeing great success between the 1920s and 1940s, the building became dilapidated and run down until it was “rescued” in the late 1950s. It was then renamed the Glen Andida Hotel, after the great dane that was “married” to Just Nuisance, the famous Simon’s Town navy dog, and the hotel’s elegant restaurant was named Wilhelmina, after their pup. After World War II, the residents’ lounge was turned into a ladies bar. The small horseshoe-shaped bar survived the test of time and can be seen on the veranda to welcome guests and remind them of the rich history of the building. Rumour has it that the hotel is haunted by two ghosts – a noisy blonde-haired boy of about 6 and a middle-aged woman thought to be his mother. Picture: Hilton Teper CollectionA recent photograph of Deep South Eatery.
The False Bay Echo is celebrating its 70th anniversary and to commemorate this milestone, readers can look forward to a souvenir edition in September. In the run-up to our birthday, we will publish a four-page pull-out every month as well as a “Then and Now” picture page, which will commemorate the rich history of the far south. We invite our readers to share their memories of the past with us by sending in old photographs, letters or stories to our acting editor, Simoneh de Bruin, at simoneh.debruin@acm.co.za
