Historical Witsand

1488 - The Portuguese recognised the Breede River mouth as the finest natural anchorage on the whole southern seaboard of Africa.

1813 - Malagas got its name from the farm belonging to Adriaan Odendaal, “Malagas Craal gelegen aan de Breede River.”

1820 - Captain Benjamin Moodie established the Port Beaufort Trading Company. Credit must go to Benjamin Moodie for first enticing the vessels to cross the bar regularly for mercantile purposes. Benjamin Moodie built a warehouse at Port Beaufort.

1840 - By this year Barry and Nephews are the undisputed “princes of the port.”

1859 - Barry Church completed by Thomas Barry. The register contains names of the Reitzes, the Moodies, the Dunns and the Barry’s. September 26th. 158 ton screw steamer “Kadie” arrived at Port Beaufort after sailing for 81 days from Scotland. This vessel was built expressly for Barry and Nephews. On board was her commanded, Captain Fowler and his family and the Rev. John Samuel, headmaster of the Swellendam Grammar School, the 15 year old Francis William Reitz who was on holiday at Rhenoster Fontein from the South African College. The trip up the Breede River to Malagas took two hours and twenty minutes. “Kadie” was piloted by one of William Dunn’s numerous descendants.

Witsand Trade Post

Barry's Memorial Church in Witsand

Blougans - One of many shipwrecks

1865 - “Kadie” stranded at the mouth of the Breede River on the rocks off Cape Infanta. Joseph Barry dies at
Hope Mill in Cape Town on Sunday, 26th March, aged 70 years. The Great Fire of Swellendam.
“White Sands” appeared on title deeds relating to a portion of the farm Westfield.

1832 - Westfield homestead built. Over the years various people had erected accommodation next to the river mouth on stands obtained by the Moodie family of Westfield. The village of White Sands near Port Beaufort was laid out on that part of the farm Westfield called White Sands held by Benjamin and DD Moodie, under certificates of registered title dated 30 December 1908.

1909 - White Sands proclaimed a township.

1911 - Postal agency established.

1926 - Post Office, telephone and telegraph agency.