Page 34 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

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community. This paper reconstructs the history of human occupation of the Point and

interprets its significance. Occupation of the Point breaks down into a five eras each of which
has left traces upon it.

Era 1: Pre - Colonial Period

Era 1 covers the pre - colonial period when Stone Age peoples frequented the area leaving

evidence of occupation in some of the caves on Trappies Kop – possibly dating back to 30

000 years ago. Undoubtedly they would also have frequented the rocky shores of the Point
below and depended on water from the little stream that ran down the small valley to the

sandy beach. What remains of their presence here?

Era 2: The DEIC 1652 - 1806

Era 2 spanned the period under the Dutch East India Company and up to 1806 during which

the Point remained the property of the Company. From the 1670s lime burning and fishing
were carried on here. From 1743 onwards, when Simon’s Bay became the winter port for the

Dutch fleets, Kalk Bay (together with Muizenberg) was used as a transhipment point for

goods brought down by ox-wagon from Table Bay.

Era 3: Sub - division 1806 - 1912

Era 3 covers the period after 1808 when the Imperial Government allowed sub-division and
sale of the land to various parties. By 1912 this process had resulted in the Point’s

fragmentation into 9 land parcels on which a variety of buildings had been constructed. (Fig.

2.3). There are three constant features in this and subsequent plans: first, the erf boundaries
marked by the survey points (usually fixed by concrete beacons but sometimes by

whalebones); second, the curves of Main Road and the railway corridor; and, third, the
footprint of the house "By-the-Sea".

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