The 22nd of October 2025 was a very hot day in Kalk Bay. In the evening, I went down to the harbour and sat watching the light fade. It was one of those still, late-spring evenings when the warmth lingers, the sea hushes, and the first lights come on along the bay.
From where I was sitting, I heard two young girls speaking to their mother—a tall, beautiful blonde woman in her late thirties. She said, “It’s lovely here. Working and living in a place like this is the best of both worlds.”
It was a simple exchange, but it said much more to me. I could tell that this mother had fallen in love with Kalk Bay. Who knows—perhaps she’ll move here one day. It reminded me of another woman who once fell in love with this place decades ago: my mother. She found a house in Kalk Bay overlooking False Bay, and that’s where I grew up.
That brings me to Kalk Bay itself. Before I say more, let me add this: there’s no monopoly on ideas, facts, or even memories. Everyone has a story. People today are writing their own family histories in Kalk Bay—the new families, the newcomers in the multi-million-rand homes, their stories just as valid as those of the first burghers, or even of the earliest inhabitants who lived here long before them.
Some people claim to know everything about Kalk Bay. But that’s foolishness. The Bible says there’s no point in beating a fool—because even half-dead, the foolishness won’t come out. No one owns the history of Kalk Bay.
I was fortunate to grow up here in the late 1960s and 1970s, with access to books that sparked my fascination with the town’s past. One book, in particular, stayed with me: Die Bloudam is hul Oesland by Tommy Carse. That book deepened my appreciation for Kalk Bay’s history and people.
Today, anyone can explore this history—through books, archives, theses, and records, many freely available. Of course, when you live in one period, the only way to reach back into another is through written records and photographs. And now, of course, videos.
So, I’ve compiled a report—linked below—with as many sources as possible about Kalk Bay. It’s not definitive, and it’s not meant to be. I want everyone to do their own digging, their own scratching, and to find the sources that speak to them.
And let me say: there’s no better way to know a place than to go there. Sit on the harbour wall. Talk to the fishermen, the fish dealers, the shopkeepers. Have a plate of proper fish and chips. Listen. Watch. Smell the salt and diesel. That’s how you’ll truly meet Kalk Bay.
Kalk I’m Bay Historical Sources and References
Below is a comprehensive, open-source-style list of books, archives, theses, and media features relating to Kalk Bay and its people. You can download my full PDF report below or use this list to explore the resources yourself.
Books on Kalk Bay
Title Author Publisher Notes
Kalk Bay: A Place of Character Michael Walker Kalk Bay Historical Association Illustrated history of architecture and community life
Kalk Bay and its People Patricia Hickson KBHA Oral histories and cultural roots
Harbour Memories KBHA Collective Kalk Bay Historical Association Essays and photographs of harbor life
The Filipino Fishermen of Kalk Bay KBHA Pamphlet Series KBHA Historical account of Filipino migration
A Century of Fishing in False Bay J. du Plessis Self-published Broader context of fishing history
Die Bloudam is hul Oesland (translated edition) Tommy Carse Independent translation Poetic reflections on Kalk Bay’s fishing families and coastal life
Kalk Bay Historical Association (KBHA) Publications
Title Author/Editor Type Notes
KBHA Newsletter Archive Various Periodical Historical essays and community updates
Railway and Resistance KBHA Pamphlet Social impact of railway arrival in 1883
Lime Kilns and Colonial Trade KBHA Pamphlet Origins of Kalk Bay’s name and lime industry
Mosques and Churches of Kalk Bay KBHA Pamphlet Religious architecture and community life
Kalk Bay Oral History Project KBHA Audio/Transcript Archive Interviews with elders and fishermen
Academic Theses and Dissertations
Title Author Institution Year Notes
Fishing, Identity, and Resistance in Kalk Bay L. Petersen University of Cape Town 2011 MA thesis on cultural resilience under apartheid
Spatial Memory and Displacement in Kalk Bay T. Jacobs University of Cape Town 2015 Oral histories and identity
Heritage and Tourism in Kalk Bay M. Daniels Stellenbosch University 2018 Gentrification and preservation
The Role of Filipino Migrants in Kalk Bay’s Fishing Economy A. de la Cruz University of the Western Cape 2009 Honors thesis (unpublished)
Government and Archival Records
Source Repository Type Notes
Cape Government Railways Construction Records Cape Archives Repository Maps, permits Railway development in the 1880s
Lime Kiln Permits and Trade Licenses Cape Archives Colonial records 1700s–1800s trade activity
Group Areas Act Files Western Cape Provincial Archives Legal documents Forced removals and resistance
Kalk Bay Heritage Site Declaration Western Cape Government Heritage Report Official designation in 1996
Environmental Impact Assessments City of Cape Town Planning documents Harbour renovations and zoning
Municipal Zoning Maps City of Cape Town Archives Maps Historical land-use changes
Articles and Media Features
Title Author Publication Year Notes
Kalk Bay’s Filipino Legacy Staff Writer Cape Argus 2006 Feature on cultural heritage
The Last Langganna M. Isaacs South Peninsula Chronicle 2012 Profile of traditional fish tallying
Kalk Bay Resists Gentrification J. Mokoena GroundUp 2019 Community activism and housing
Echoes of the Sea R. Naidoo Mail & Guardian 2021 Cultural memory and fishing rituals
Archival and Oral History Projects
Project Institution Format Notes
Kalk Bay Oral History Archive KBHA Audio + Transcript Interviews with elders and fishers
False Bay Fishing Records Iziko Museums Archival documents Boat logs and catch records
Cape Peninsula Slave Routes Project UCT Centre for African Studies Digital archive Context for freed slave communities
South Peninsula Railway Maps Cape Archives Cartographic Development of Kalk Bay station
Visual and Artistic Sources
Title Artist Format Notes
Kalk Bay Langganna tallies the day’s catch Chesney Bradshaw Painting Cover image; evokes ritual and heritage
KBHA Photo Archive KBHA Photographs Historic images of harbor, homes, and families
Fishing Families of False Bay Community Exhibit Mixed media Local portraits and artifacts
