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Knysna’s history is interwoven with it’s rich natural heritage: the indigenous forests, and much of the history of this beautiful town, seems to revolve around it’s beauty, elephants, forests & people. The name Knysna was derived from a Khoi word, the meaning of which remains uncertain. Some suggestions have been “where the woods and water meet”, “straight down”, even “ferns”. The most likely sounding one is said to have originated from “Zthuys Xna” meaning place of wood. The first settlers all selected superb farms for themselves, the finest being Melkhoutkraal (Milkwood Corral) which included the whole basin containing the Knysna Lagoon, the ownership of which was taken over in 1804 by the man who will always be identified with Knysna as the real founder of the town, George Rex, whose enigmatic and forceful personality has become part of the folklore of Southern Africa. The town of Knysna itself came into being when the areas of Newhaven and Mellville were combined in 1881. The Knysna Elephants The elephants are an enormous part of the history of Knysna, part of the mystique and magic of the forests where they have roamed for thousands of years. Much of this history is exhibited and documented in the Knysna Elephant Park. As early as 1876, a certain Captain Harison made application to the Cape Government for legislation to protect the Knysna Elephants as he was concerned about the rate at which they were being destroyed by hunters. This was denied, being considered "hardly worthwhile to legislate on the subject", hard to imagine if one studies the numbers that were recorded. In the book, The Knysna Elephants and their Forest Home, it is stated that while accuracy is extremely difficult when assessing elephant numbers E.J.Dommisse, a former District Officer in Knysna, indicated the following table taken from records:
Hunted and chased by tree felling in their forests, by the end of the '80's they were almost extinct, with only one herd remaining at the beginning of the 20th Century. So interesting and emotive is their story, that numerous books have been written, including novels by well known South African author, Dalene Matthee. Her worldwide bestseller, Kringe in die Bos, translated into English, Circles in the Forest, gives a fascinating insite into the lives of the people of that time - the woodcutters, the gold diggers, the merchants, and of course, the elephants. The Gold Rush at Millwood Fortune seekers flocked to Knysna, from as far away as Britain, California and Australia, when the message spread that gold had been discovered in the forests and hills of Millwood, the area 33km north of Knysna. Within weeks, a town mushroomed, with six hotels, houses & shops, and traders flourished. Sadly, the gold rush was short lived as it became evident that there was not in fact enough gold to sustain the town that had developed, and within five years, Millwood became a ghost town. Now, more than a century later, a mystical aura is still present, and Millwood is a popular attraction as visitors visit the remains of old foundations, street signs, tunnels and mine shafts deep in the forest, trying to relive in their imaginations, the lives and activities of those miners from a distant past. Although Millwood did not succeed as a mining venture, it was nevertheless an important part of the history of Knysna, promoting Knysna as a port. At one time, some twelve vessels per month docked in the harbour, bringing in mining machinery and taking out timber. Much of the old mining equipment has been recovered, restored, and is now on view in the Materolli Museum, Bendigo Mine and Millwood House, originally built in the mining village of Millwood, later dismantled and moved to Knysna. The Woodcutters of Knysna This is another group of people who are so much a part of the history of Knysna. In 1778, Governor Joachim van Plettenberg recognized the potential of the forest timber industry, thus developing Knysna's original forest timber supplies, with Lord Charles Somerset deciding that the surrounding forests should be exploited in order to meet the soaring demand for timber. Towards the end of the 18th century, European stock farmers and woodcutters had established themselves in the district. For over 200 years, woodcutters eked out an existence, frequently exploited by greedy businessmen interested only in their own wealth, as the forests were mercilessly robbed of their rich resources. In 1939 the forests were closed to protect them from being completely denuded, and allow them to regenerate. The majority of woodcutters were "pensioned off" to an area known as Karatara. Today, Karatara is still home to many of the descendants of these woodcutters, a beautiful, undeveloped little town where old original buildings can still be seen.
San Ambrosa Church, Gouna Originally built for the Italian Silk Spinners by Rev Rooney in 1891. In 1881, a group of approximately 30 Italians embarked on a courageous expedition to the dark continent of Africa as it was then known, encouraged by a few enterprising colonials who had hoped to establish a silk spinning industry. There have been many rumours about how the Italians came to Knysna, and it is believed that they were shamefully misled about the conditions and facilities to which they were coming. Ultimately their silk trade dream never materialsed due to a failure to produce Mulberry trees to feed the silk worms required to spin the silk. Believing that the African soil was not suited to growing the Mulberry trees, the Italian settlers abandoned their effort, and were forced to live out a meagre existence by means agriculture and small scale cattle breeding on land provided for them in Gouna. Ironically, it turned out that the crop failure was in fact not due to unsuitable conditions at all, but rather due to a bug that had found it’s way into the area when early settlers brought alien plants into the country from Australia. Had they known this, a flourishing silk trade may have blossomed into a much needed lucrative industry in the country. San Ambrosa Church was built ten years after the Italians’ arrival in Knysna, lovingly created in memory of their precious life in the foothills of Italy. Sadly over time, the Church was vandalized, and looted of it’s yelowwwood ceilings and floorboards, candleholders & altar cross. Some renovations have been done, and some say that San Ambrosa exudes a special comfort, reminiscent of the passion and history of it’s original pioneers , and the Italian legacy here lives on…………. The Wreck of the Paquita Embedded in the ocean floor in the Heads at the mouth of the Knysna Lagoon, lies the skeleton of one of the more infamous wrecks along the Garden Route. In the early hours of a cold and rainy morning with poor visibility, on the 18th of October 1903, the Paquita allegedly "fouled her anchors", and drifted onto the Beacon rocks at the Knysna Heads. There was much speculation as to how the Paquita had managed to get there, as there was about why some of the crew had deserted the ship or been paid off, as there were apparently only four men still aboard to sail on to their next destination. Further investigation raised even more questions, and in the end, the claim on the insurance was not surprisingly dismissed. This Knysna legend is now a favorite haunt for scuba divers and snorkellers , the underwater beauty of the wreck with its brightly coloured corals and marine flora making it one of the most beautiful dive sites on the Garden Route.
The Knysna Angling Museum This precious collection is a unique feature for angling in South Africa, and can be viewed at the Old Gaol complex. The only one of it's kind in the southern hemisphere, a must for fishing fans, the place to view valuable angling equipment and relive the changes of the angling sport over many years. The Knysna Fort Constructed at Verdompskop in Knysna during the Anglo Boer War under the supervision of Major Anstruther Thomson, the remains of which can still be seen behind the Knysna Provincial Hospital. The fort was also known at the time as Thomson's Folly, being used mainly as a watchtower as it never saw any action! |
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