There are quite a few theories as to exactly how Jeffrey's Bay got its name. The predominate one is that there was a trading ship captain, Captain Jeffrey's, that sailed the east coast of Africa in the 1800s and when his crew came down with scurvy he landed his vessel at what is now the main beach of Jeffrey's Bay. Captain Jeffrey's later returned with his family and bought erven 1, 2, 9 and 10 for 79, here he built his home on the corner of Woltemade and Jeffrey's Streets. In 1928 the then, prominent Reilly family, moved to Jeffreys Bay and reportedly used the original timber from Captain Jeffrey's ship to build their home.
Of course there were other families in the Eastern Cape of South Africa called Jeffrey's at the time one been a prominent trader in the area in the 1850s and the other a whale hunter from St Helena, who used Jeffery's Bay as a harbour and trading post.
The Reillys bought the land that Country Feeling now occupies and built the old Wimpy Bar during the 1960s. This building was demolished in 1964, and the Reilly's constructed a double-story building, which they used as a tea garden, with residential flats and a gift shop sharing the same property.
In the 1850s the well known Jeffrey's Bay Hotel was build which was renamed the Savoy in 1937, it was demolition in 1968 along with a part of Jeffrey's Bay history.
Perhaps more important is the historical finding of the waves that have put Jeffrey's Bay on the international map of the surfing world. It is generally believed that the legendary John Whitmore, known as the father of South African surfing, discovered the waves along the coast while travelling the Garden Route on a business trip in the 1950s. He watched the world-famous waves roll onto the shore in awe. Since then, Jeffrey's has consistently performed at equally impressive levels for the surfing community and the international Billabong Pro competition.
Of course there were other families in the Eastern Cape of South Africa called Jeffrey's at the time one been a prominent trader in the area in the 1850s and the other a whale hunter from St Helena, who used Jeffery's Bay as a harbour and trading post.
The Reillys bought the land that Country Feeling now occupies and built the old Wimpy Bar during the 1960s. This building was demolished in 1964, and the Reilly's constructed a double-story building, which they used as a tea garden, with residential flats and a gift shop sharing the same property.
In the 1850s the well known Jeffrey's Bay Hotel was build which was renamed the Savoy in 1937, it was demolition in 1968 along with a part of Jeffrey's Bay history.
Perhaps more important is the historical finding of the waves that have put Jeffrey's Bay on the international map of the surfing world. It is generally believed that the legendary John Whitmore, known as the father of South African surfing, discovered the waves along the coast while travelling the Garden Route on a business trip in the 1950s. He watched the world-famous waves roll onto the shore in awe. Since then, Jeffrey's has consistently performed at equally impressive levels for the surfing community and the international Billabong Pro competition.
About the Author:
Andrew Keet has lived and travelled up and down the East Coast of South Africa for almost 50 years, one of his favorite towns is Jeffrey's Bay where he always takes a break to do some Jeffrey's Bay surfing.
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