Page 199 - KBHA Bulletin 10

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The Royal Navy 1814 to 1957

Commanders-in-Chief had spells of duty of only two years. They stayed in Admiralty
House and brought their own furniture, sometimes leaving a few pieces behind. When

the Royal Navy handed over Admiralty House to the SA Navy in 1957 they took most

of the furniture etc. with them. The very large dining-room table, which seats 26 guests,
remained.

Succeeding Commanders made changes to the house and gardens. Most of these were

essential repairs to roof and floors, but some additions and alterations occurred over the
years. However, surprisingly, the house has retained an impressive uniformity and

integrity.

Admiralty House had many well-known and famous residents and visitors. Some of

these were Scott, Darwin, Livingstone, Kipling, Semmes of the Alabama, and Stanley.

(Figs. 5.8 – 5.10). Smuts accompanied the Royal Family in 1947. The only full Admiral
to occupy Admiralty House was Sir Herbert Packer in 1949, and his wife Joy wrote

some of her books in the upstairs sunroom. Many parties and ceremonies took place in
the house and gardens. (Figs. 5.11 – 5.15).

The last C-in-C of the Royal Navy in Simon’s Town was Vice Admiral Robson in 1957.

The South African Navy

Admiral Hugo Biermann, his wife Peggy and their young family were the first SA Navy
occupants of Admiralty House. They made several changes which were not always in

keeping with the style of the house. They and their successors, the Johnson’s, were very
popular and respected by the community.

When Naval Headquarters moved to Pretoria, the fate of Admiralty House hung in the
balance. For a while Commodore Ted Jupp and his family lived in Admiralty House,