Henties Bay
a Short History
|
Die dorp se geskiedenis begin in
1920 toe ene Erasmus in die omgewing beland op soek na diamante. Op 'n keer het
hy verdwaal en byna omgekom van die dors, maar ontdek toe 'n fontein met vars
water in die mond van 'n sytak van die Omaruru rivier. Erasmus het hom mettertyd
by die fontein tuis gemaak en daar groente begin kweek. Wat van hierdie eerste
inwoner van die gebied geword het, is nie duidelik nie.
Die naam Hentiesbaai kom van
Majoor Hentie van der Merwe wat met 'n weermag ekspidiesie weer die fontein
herontdek het. Hy het daarna gereeld Desember
vakansie vanaf Kalkveld by die
fontein kom uitkamp en uitspan. Vriende van Hentie
het gevolg en die naam
Hentiesbaai is gebruik om die vakansieplek aan te dui.
Teenswoordig is dit 'n
uitgebreide vakansiedorp met die nodige infrastruktuur, nl Winkel, Motorhawe,
Poskantoor, Apteek, Hotel, Telefoon ens. Behalwe die hotel,
word daar ruim
voorsiening gemaak vir vakansieverblyf soos vakansie woonstelle, losieshuise,
kamers, huise ens. Naas visvang kan die besoeker ook die 'n potjie golf
speel, dagbesoeke bring aan die Messum krater, die robbe kolonie by Kaap Kruis,
die Omdel dam, of luggene besigtig in die woestyn.
The town's history started in
1920 when a certain Mr Erasmus where looking for diamonds in the area and
nearly succumbed of thirst when he got lost. He stumbled upon a fresh
water fountain in the mouth of a branch of the Omaruru River. Erasmus
eventually made this place his base and started a vegetable garden to
sustain himself. What happened to this first inhabitant of the area is
not known.
The name Henties Bay however
where derived from Major Hentie van der Merwe who re-discovered the fountain
while on a army expedition. He then regularly came back with his
family from Kalkfeld for a camping holiday. Friends followed,
and the name Henties Bay became the name to which this place where revered
to.
Currently Henties bay has
become a popular holiday town with the necessary infrastructure such as;
Shops, Garages and fillings stations, Post Office, Pharmacy, Hotel,
Telephone services, Television and Radio as well as Cell Phone reception.
Apart from the Hotel there is lot of other accommodation such as Bed and
Breakfast, Rooms to Rent, Holiday apartments, houses to rent etc.
Activities include, fishing, golf, a day visit to either messum crater or
the seal colony at Cape Cross, a visit to Omdel dam or go see the
legions in the Namib.
|
