Page 55 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

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An account of this construction activity, published by Furlong in the SA Railways and

Harbours Magazine of 1919, describes how a sand hill was moved to make way for the line.
Within the sand hill were the remains of an old building with thick stone walls mortared with

lime. This was referred to as a limeworks:.

"During the excavation of the sandhill for the formation of the construction yard
an old building, 40ft. x 20ft. x 9ft. high, with walls 3ft. thick, which had been

completely buried beneath the sand, was discovered. This building was strongly

built of stone and lime mortar and no doubt was one of the original buildings of
the old lime works from which Kalk Bay derives its name."

It is probable that the structure was destroyed and the fabric used in the harbour reclamation
as the "ruin" marked on the plans (Fig. 2.8) lay directly in the path of the spur line built to

service the harbour construction. In contrast, an existing wood and iron "bungalow" was
picked up and shifted to a new location on the site. The harbour itself was equipped with a

new fish-cleaning slab (with fresh water), a bait house, a café and club room, lavatories and
facilities for the "non-European" community.

The remainder of the Point land, erf 90016, was granted in 1848 to Matthew Gregory Blake
who promptly went insolvent. In the subsequent transfer it is described as a "certain piece of

freehold land with the buildings erected thereon …", and the survey diagram of 1846 shows
the building footprint. There is no record of the name in the deeds, though a photograph

published in du Plessis’s book confirms its identity as "Patmos". (Figs. 2.16 & 2.17).

"Patmos" - named after the island where St. John had his revelation - was rented by the Dutch

Reformed Church for the Reverend Andrew Murray to use as a holiday retreat from his base
in Wellington, where he lived from 1871 until his death. According to Murray’s biographer

the family were certainly at "Patmos" for Christmas 1872. In 1906 there was a Murray family
reunion on the Point - a picnic party for 68 that included his children, grandchildren and

great-grandchildren. Their final visit took place in 1916 shortly before Murray died. (du

Plessis, 1919).

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