Delving into the history of a much-loved but little-documented beacon
A reader recently reached out with a question: When was the green starboard lighthouse at Kalk Bay Harbour erected? A deceptively simple query—until one begins to look for the answer. As with many aspects of South African coastal infrastructure, the trail quickly vanishes into the mists of time and bureaucratic silence.
The green lighthouse in question stands on the northern mole of Kalk Bay Harbour, a stoic little beacon familiar to artists, fishermen, and romantics alike. Unlike its better-known sibling—the red port-side lighthouse, now sadly neglected—the green lighthouse rarely receives attention. Its origins, even less so.
A Harbour Born from Necessity
To understand the mystery, we must revisit the broader history of Kalk Bay Harbour itself.
Before a formal harbour existed, fishermen launched their boats directly from the beach. But the arrival of the railway in 1883 consumed valuable shoreline space and disrupted easy boat access. The need for a protective, artificial harbour became urgent.
Initial plans were floated in the late 19th century, culminating in the 1897 Municipal Improvement Bill, which gave the municipality authority to build a breakwater. However, the Anglo-Boer War and financial woes delayed action. It wasn’t until 1902 that Wilhelm Westhofen, then chief engineer of the Public Works Department, proposed a grand harbour with two breakwaters enclosing an 8.5-acre basin. A rival, more modest plan by Cathcart Methven was later favoured, with a final compromise plan by G.T. Nicholson adopted in 1912.
Construction officially began on 6 March 1913, under engineer C. Le S. Furlong. The foundation stone was laid by Minister Henry Burton on 7 June 1913, using a silver trowel specially crafted for the occasion. Despite hazardous conditions—storms, open sea, and 10-ton concrete blocks hauled in by crane—the harbour took shape. By 1918, the work was largely complete, with an 8-acre basin, a long breakwater, a fish-landing quay, and a slipway.
The harbour was declared a minor port of the Union on 21 June 1917, under the jurisdiction of South African Railways and Harbours. Kalk Bay had finally entered the industrial era.
Enter the North Mole—and Possibly the Green Lighthouse
But what about the green lighthouse?
The key lies in the secondary mole—the northern extension that now bears the green light. This northern mole wasn’t part of the original 1913–1918 construction. It was added between 1937 and 1939 to better protect the harbour’s basin and improve safety for the fishing fleet.
This timeline offers a clue: it is likely that the green starboard lighthouse was erected around the time the north mole was completed. Yet, no records (at least publicly accessible ones) confirm the installation date of the lighthouse itself. Online searches mostly repeat one another, offering little more than speculation. The National Archives or Cape Archives might yield a clue, but even then, one would probably find only references to the completion of the mole—not the placement of a specific navigational aid.
When I tried to request Transnet National Ports Authority to repair the red lighthouse—its battered door now replaced with a slapdash clapboard—I was told that maintenance is done from Port Elizabeth. Three years later, nothing has been done. From that response, you can imagine how far I would get in asking about the green one.
Beauty in the Unknown
So, we’re left with this: a harbour with well-documented beginnings and a lighthouse whose birthday is likely lost to the tides. Erected sometime between 1937 and 1939? Perhaps. Later? Possibly. A precise answer may no longer be attainable.
But even in the absence of archival certainty, the green starboard lighthouse continues to shine—literally and figuratively. I’ve seen some beautiful paintings and sketches of it over the years. It’s clearly struck a chord with local artists, who have captured its quiet resilience against the False Bay sky.
To those artists: well done. Sometimes the spirit of a place speaks louder than a date in a ledger.
* The information from summary historical records and engineering reports is from the Kalk Bay Historical Association and related sources.
** Have you come across old photographs, family memories, or official records that might shed light—so to speak—on the history of Kalk Bay’s green lighthouse? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Every scrap of information adds to the picture, especially when the archives fall short.
