Simon's Town originally took the name Simon Vlek after the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699 after he surveyed the area and pronounced it a safe winter harbour during the months of May to September. Progress may have come slowly at first, but once the Royal Naval Base was established the area grew rapidly under the second occupation of the Cape by the British in 1806. The South Atlantic Squadron based here at the time had the task of protecting Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile to St Helena Island found some 1200 miles away.
Admiral Lord Nelson is also believed to have come ashore in Simon’s Town and nursed back to health after an illness in the late 1770s. There were over 300 ships repaired here during the Second World War and the completion of the Selborne dry dock and the modern harbour took place in 1910. The naval base in Simon's Town was eventually handed over to the South African government some 47 years later and remains an important naval location today. The town itself rises steeply above the harbour and up the mountainside, boasting rich architectural history and natural beauty.
Simon's Town has a rich and vibrant history and is populated with descendants of the world’s sailing and exploring nations, as well as many slave families from the 17th century. The multicultural trend can be seen in many of the quaint Victorian buildings and other architectural beauties along this part of the False Bay coastline. An interesting historical site located here is the Dutch East India Company hospital, which has three front facing gables and was built above the Residency in 1764. There are several museums worth visiting in Simon's Town and Boulders Beach provides a wealth of entertainment for individuals, couples and families alike.
Boulders Beach is without a doubt one of Simon's Town’s major attractions, as it is world renowned as one of the best beaches in Cape Town, as well as being home to one of only three South African colonies of the African Jackass Penguin. The False Bay Yacht Club is conveniently located adjacent to the Waterfront Centre and there are boating, kayaking and other activities available here. A prime holiday and tourist destination, property in the area is always in high demand and the prices are generally on the expensive side, but with such an incredible history and natural beauty it’s no doubt worth every penny.
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