Page 69 - Bulletin 9 2005

55

The 1d postage came to Cape Town by proclamation on 30 August 1860, but for local
delivery only. Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town were not classified as local delivery because

they did not have at least two postal deliveries per day. However, later on, Government
Proclamation decreed that, as from 16 January 1865, the postage rate for Kalk Bay and

Simon's Town would be fixed as follows:

Letters not exceeding ½ ounce - 1d

Letters exceeding ½ ounce but not exceeding 1 ounce - 2d

and thereafter increasing at 2d for every additional ounce or part thereof.

This Proclamation was made possible because the railway from Cape Town had reached

Wynberg, which became the collection and delivery point for post-carts to and from
Simon’s Town and Kalk Bay. This meant that both Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town enjoyed

two postal deliveries per day (and later three deliveries).

On 11 December 1879 it was decided to increase the penny postage, but public objection
resulted in the Government’s reducing the increase from 3d to 2d per half ounce – in terms

of Post Office Ordinance of 7 June 1882. The postage on newspapers was reduced from 1d

to ½d and postcard postage was 1d. A Late Postage Fee was introduced in 1891. Act No 35
of 13 September 1892 made penny postage available to Kalk Bay once more, as well as to

all parts of the Colony. The rate for half-an-ounce became one ounce in 1920 in conformity

with the Postal Union Convention, and postage was fixed at 1½d. There was penny post
again between 1926 and 1931, when the rate was now per ounce, instead of per half ounce,

as earlier, and the Cape enjoyed its cheapest rate of postage. This same rate of penny
postage returned in 1934 only to pass forever on 16 September 1940.

Dick Fernandez: a remarkable career

One of the most remarkable associations with the Kalk Bay post office was the 47-year

career, from 1899 – 1946, of Kalk Bay resident ‘Dick’ Fernandez. (Fig. 2.8.) He was born