Please be careful when extracting and replacing this cache as it may quickly disappear! This can be a high traffic area at times so stealth may be required!
The little seaside village of St James lies just past Muizenberg en route to Kalk Bay, set against the mountain with incredible sea views and one of the prettiest little beaches. This residential suburb, very close to Rhodes’ cottage, is much sought after and many of the homes date back to the time when the Cape was a colony of the Victorian empire. St James is named after the St James Roman Catholic Church, built in 1858 for the Filipino fishermen of Kalk Bay, just up the road.
St James is one of Cape Town’s smaller suburbs, yet it has a rich history. Thanks to a publication put together by St James historian, Michael Walker, the history of some of the original homesteads built between Muizenberg and St James in 1883 has been recorded.
From St James towards Muizenberg, a number of gracious stone houses still remain as testament to a wealthy colonial past, during which the main road was commonly known as “Millionaire’s Mile”.
During the late 19th century, homes were constructed from stone, plaster and limestone, and sported thatched roofs. Some of these homes have been handed down from generation to generation and still exist today, giving visitors a glimpse of what St James looked like in its heyday. One such structure is St James Cottage, built in 1853. According to historical accounts, the owner, Abraham Auret, hid prisoners of war in the loft during the Anglo-Boer War, and helped to stage their escape across the bay.
Today St James offers the visitor a relaxing spot in which to unwind and enjoy the intimate beach and rock pools along the False Bay coastline. St James’ beach also has a large tidal pool which is very popular with locals, and in summer holidays is packed with a variety of people and their children. This is largely because the beach is so well sheltered from the notorious winds of Cape Town, but also because it offers safe swimming and is conveniently close to the Simon's Town train line.
Danger beach, the other little beach of St James, was used in the whaling industry during the early 1800s, as a place to haul carcasses. Kalk Bay is within walking distance and offers a further delightful ambling opportunity, through cobbled streets and a main road lined with an eclectic mix of antique and bookshops, restaurants, coffee bistros and clothing boutiques. Boyes Drive, which runs up above St James, offers further magnificent views over False Bay and is a wonderful spot from which to spot whales in season.
The colorful beach huts and colorful people who enjoy St. James beach are an amazing reflection of our "Rainbow Nation". Take a minute out of your busy lives to relax and soak up this fantastic location and keep an eye out for muggles!