Port Beaufort

• Province: Western Cape
• District: Garden Route
• Coordinates:34°23′45″S 20°49′25″E
• Area:2.71 km2
• Municipality­ -Hessequa

Port Beaufort is a small coastal village in the Hessequa Local Municipality of the Garden Route District Municipality. It lies on the southern Cape coast at the mouth of the Breede River, near the popular beaches of Witsand and Stilbaai. The village is a quiet residential area with fishing, boating, and river estuary activities.

History of Port Beaufort

Harbour and seaside resort

Port Beaufort is a small harbour/seaside resort on the North bank of the Breede River. It was named after Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort, the father of Lord Charles Somerset. The settlement is intricately connected to the story of Joseph Barry, who arrived in South Africa in 1819. He realised that it would be easier to transport goods between the Overberg and Cape Town by sea rather than overland by ox wagon.

Freshwater was scarce in the 1800s, so Joseph Barry had a specialised “water boat” built to ferry fresh water down the river to the town. After many years of service, the boat beached itself on the eastern bank of the river. To this day, the skeletal remains of this barge can still be seen next to the Breede River Lodge.

Joseph Barry built a wharf and a warehouse at Malgas, 40 kilometres up the river. Some ships sank at the river mouth, so Barry commissioned a 150-ton steamship in Scotland called Kadie, which would successfully navigate the route until 1865, doing over 200 voyages. Sadly, it was also lost on the rocky Southern shore. Today, you can still see the SS Kadie’s propeller resting on millstones in the churchyard. The firm Barry & Nephews became the local government. They printed their own banknotes, which were widely accepted as legal tender across the region. When the railway reached the area, Barry’s empire collapsed as there was no longer a need for ships. The old customs house was turned into an inn.

In the village is the thatched-roof Barry Memorial Church, built by the family in 1849. Beyond being a national monument designed by Bishop Robert Grey, it hosted an unusual wedding in 1854. That day, three daughters of Frederick William Reitz (who later became the president of the Orange Free State) were married in a joint ceremony. All three of them married men named John!

See a comprehensive list of ships that have wrecked near Port Beaufort

The license plate prefix for Port Beaufort is CCC and the postcode is 6666

Things to see and do in Port Beaufort

• The Barry Memorial is a little chapel and a National Monument. It was built by the Barry family in 1859 and is still in use today for services and weddings.  072 247 2895
• The Barry Wool Shed, with its interesting gables.
• Small Town South Africa Facebook slideshow

 Resources

Practical information for the Western Cape, Regulations, permits and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide

WEATHER IN PORT BEAUFORT TODAY

Browse businesses and places to visit in Port Beaufort

 

Useful Numbers in Port Beaufort

Residents and visitors can find important local contact numbers below, including police, medical services, utilities, and community facilities

• Emergency Services

• Police: 10111
• Fire: 084 014 1828
• Ambulance: 10177- 028 713 4554

• Medical

• Closest hospital;Swellendam Hospital-028 514 1141

• Municipal & Utilities

• Municipality;028 713 786824 Hours Emergency Number–084 014 1828
• Water: 028 713 7868
• Electricity:028 713 7868

• Transport & Roads

• Traffic department:028 713 7817
• Road Emergencies / SANRAL: 0800 204 204

• Community & Safety

• Childline-116
• 24 hour Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape:  0861 555 777.
• NSRI 087 094 9774
• SPCA: Garden Route SPCA-044 693 0824

• Local Contacts and Community Resources 

• Post office; Agency at the Sands supermarket- 028 537 1800
• Library: VONDELING MINI LIBRARY- 072 513 6605
• Tourism – 028 537 1717