History of Gordon’s Bay

Province: Western Cape
Coordinates:34°10′00″S “18°52′00″E
Area: 9.67 km2
Helderberg
Municipality; City of Cape Town

Early days in Gordon’s Bay

Gordon’s Bay is a suburb in the Helderberg area (formerly Hottentots Holland) of Cape Town. It was originally called Visser’s Bay. Around 1673 it was called De Vishoek or Combuys in 1676. Here was a place where there was fresh water and game to be found.

Origin of the name of Gordon’s Bay

The area was called Fishhoek before the other Fishhoek on the other side of False Bay was named.
The name Gordon’s Bay commemorates Robert Jacob Gordon a Scottish man who studied in the Netherlands and joined The Dutch Light Dragoons and rose through the ranks. He joined the Dutch East India Company and was the Commandant of Dutch troops at the Cape between 1777 and 1795. Gordon learned to speak both Hottentot and Xhosa. He went on many expeditions and kept accurate journals. He also named the Orange River and is responsible for the introduction of Merino sheep in South Africa.
In 1773 Gordon named “his’ bay after he visited it while exploring the mountains between Cape Town and False Bay on foot.

It is a mistake to believe that the large GB letters against the mountainside are for Gordon’s Bay. The letters in fact stand for General Botha, the name of the Naval Officers’ Academy in Gordon’s Bay.

The license plate prefix for Gordon’s Bay is CEY. The postal code is77140(street) and 7151 (boxes)

WEATHER IN GORDON’S BAY TODAY

SEE ALL LISTINGS IN GORDON’S BAY

Things to see and do in Gordon’s Bay:

Gordon’s Bay has A blue flag beach, Bikini Beach,
Steenbras mountain pass

Useful Numbers

Police: 021 856 2677
Traffic department:021 856 8570
Fire: Strand-021 444 7600
Water:0860 103 089
Electricity:0860 103 089
Ambulance:10177
Post office;021 856 1283
Closest hospital; Mediclinic Strand-021 854 7663
Gordon’s Bay Clinic-021 444 9315
Library:021 400 6371
Pharmacy; BAY-KEM PHARMACY-021 856 1388
SPCA: Animal Welfare Society Helderberg-021 856 0597
Schools:
Gordon’s Bay Primary School-021 856 1288
Somerstrand College-021 856 2644
Gordon’s Bay Residents Association;082 384 9699
Museum: Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum-021 845 6119
The City of Cape Town Public Emergency Communication Centre is available 24/7 For all life or property threatening emergencies, call 021 480 7700 from any phone or 107 from a landline or report online at https://bit.ly/3o4Ji3K

Gordon’s Bay