The Swellendam Heritage Association is proud to announce our August outing which will be to Malgas and Port Beaufort. Why these places?

Well the short answer is; 200 years ago, this year, Joseph Barry came to the Cape from England to learn the wine trade. As you may well know, Joseph Barry was the founder of the very influential Barry and Nephews trading empire at Port Beaufort (and Swellendam). Joseph later introduced the 158 ton screw steamer the SS "Kadie" to ply between Port Beaufort up stream to Malgas as well as the coastal route to Cape Town. Other routes included Knysna and Mosselbay. The introduction of a sea route brought great prosperity to the region as farmers were able to get their produce to market a lot more easily than previously.

Settlements soon arose around Port Beaufort and Malgas which sadly all but died with the eventual demise of Barry and Nephews.

To speak to us about the history of these two interesting places we have the retired director of the Swellendam Museum, Johan Kriek who has an in-depth knowledge of this period in our region's history and these places. Our host will be Henry Barry a direct descendant of the Barry family. In addition at Malgas Hennie Steyn has arranged for a local personto give us some history of the place..

Meet in the car park in front of the Drostdy Restaurant (Zanddrift) at 08h30. We can arrange as to who will travel with who at this point. We would ask that those who travel as passengers to please compensate the driver for fuel (say R50, or less each if more passengers).

From there we depart for Malgas along the N2 (in the Cape Town direction) over the breede River taking the dirt road to Infanta. (Latest information we have says the road is in fair condition). We will turn off just before Infanta to Malgas where our guide for the Malgas settlement will tell us a bit about its past glory.

From Malgas we depart via the Breede River pont for Port Beaufort. The pont cost about R20 per vehicle for a crossing and is not included in the outing fee. We will arrive at Port Beaufort at 12h00 at the Barry Church where Johan Kriek will tell as about Port Beaufort's past glory. Here details about the lunch venue at the hotel will be given to us.

From there we proceed home either by tar road to the N2 or by dirt road (more direct) - as you choose, back to Swellendam.

The cost for the outing excluding lunch and pont fees will be R30 for members and R50 for visitors. Please join us as this promises to be not only (1) an enjoyable outing but (2) an interesting one to boot! (two for the price of one)!

In summary:

• What: Trip to Malgas and Port Beaufort
• When: Saturday 19th August 2017.
• Time: Depart Drostdy Restaurant at 08h30.
• Cost: R30 members R50 Visitors +- R20 pont fee per vehicle NOT per person + lunch.
• Speakers: Johan Kriek (ex Drostdy Museum) and a local "Malgasee" at Malgas.
• Lunch: At the Port Beaufort Hotel (own cost).

Please RSVP to p.bromley05@gmail.com by Wednesday 16th at 18h00 (6 p.m.) for planning purposes. We look forward to having you join us.