Margate History and the SeaMonster
The time before Margate:
The first inhabitants of the South Coast of the KwaZulu Natal were the San Bushmen, who must have lived in a kind of idyllic paradise hunting and fishing on a then untouched coast line. The San People were eventually pushed out by the influx of migrating tribes from Central Africa and the arrival of European settlers.
Soon, Zulu tribes as well as a small number of daring hunters and pioneering farmers moved in. The region was difficult to tame considering the dense sub-tropical forests, countless rivers and streams, lagoons, many ravines and the seemingly endless rolling hills ensuring that development was slow in coming.
The history of Margate
The original farm that was measured out and named Margate, after an English town, by the English surveyor Henry Richardson. It was bought by Hugh Balance in 1919 for £466 because of ‘its beautiful beach and congenial scenery.’ Although he bought it with the intention of farming it, it soon became clear that farming wasn’t a viable option. He subdivided the farm into half acre plots in 1921 and tried to sell it as part of a seaside resort.
The new town was initially called Inkongweni after the local river which means ‘the place of entreatment’ in Zulu but soon reverted back to being called Margate. Balance’s efforts to sell the plots didn’t go well due to how isolated and difficult to reach this area was. It all changed in 1922 when a strange event occurred that attracted worldwide interest and put his new town on the map and gave Margate history a colorful kick start. This event makes Margate’s history really interesting; who can say that their claim to fame was a sea monster?
The Margate Seamonster
It is reported that Balance and a few beach goers witnessed two whales fighting and eventually killing a huge creature resembling a huge polar bear. The ‘monster’ later washed up on the beach and baffled everyone with its strange appearance. It was told to be 47 feet (14.3m) long, 10 feet (3m) wide, 5 feet (1.5m) high, with a 5 foot trunk, a 10 foot (3m) tail. The creature was said to be completely covered with snow white hair. It was thought to be a new species and received a lot of interest from all over the world.
Although the carcass was laying on the beach for a full two weeks before it was washed away by the next spring tide, not a single photograph was taken or sketch made of it. Did it really happen or was it an attempt to draw attention to promote sales? We will never know for sure but it did ensure that the town of Margate took off like it did and became the hugely popular holiday destination it still is today.
Margate was declared a township in January 1941 and received municipal status in 1947.
Margate history news items from way back when ...
Below you will find a selection of snippets of news items over the years referenced from the local newspaper, the South Coast Herald in their weekly ‘Back in History’ section. It is interesting to note that problems such as the shortage of parking, scarcity of water and sewerage problems are not unique to today but were a source of frustration many years ago as well.
1951
Residents could always find something to complain about. “We have lived in Margate for 18 months and have experienced great difficulty in obtaining fresh fish. It is about time we had an up-to-date fresh fish shop in an easily accessible situation.”
1957
“Slick entertainment, lavish hospitality and a magnificent setting made last Saturday night’s Casino Theatre première at Margate an ever-memorable occasion for the 850-odd people who shared it.”
1959
“Margate was described as one of the most progressive holiday resorts in South Africa by Mr RB Archibald MPC when he officially opened the Margate Country Club on Friday. More than 100 people attended the opening
1964
“Never before in the history of the Lower South Coast have there been so many enquiries for property in this area. Never too has the field from which these enquiries come been so wide.”
1968
Some things never change. “Parking has become a problem in both Port Shepstone and Margate.”
1969
A very familiar cry… “An appeal is made to everyone on the Lower South Coast to use water more sparingly.”
1971
“The New Year will be remembered as the one when food supplies and soft drinks almost ran out on the Lower South Coast.”
1979
And something a bit lighter… “Two lounge suite cushions were blown off a truck in Port Shepstone on Tuesday. You can claim them from the South Coast Herald.”
1989
Sewerage was always a problem. “Ramsgate steps up vacuum tanker service.”
1965
“Referring to reports in the Sunday papers that women are only now being allowed to accompany men into bars in certain parts of the republic, let it be noted that Margate is once again ahead of the times. Women have been allowed to accompany men into a bar and to be served with liquor over the counter for the past few years. This popular practice takes place at the leading theatre, being the only licensed theatre on the Natal South Coast.”
