Knysna, a coastal town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, boasts a rich and diverse history. From its early indigenous inhabitants to the arrival of European settlers and the establishment of key industries, Knysna's story is one of resilience, innovation, and natural beauty.
The iconic Knysna Heads, marking the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon.
Early History and Settlers
Forty fossilised hominid footprints, dating to about 90,000 years ago, along with various other archaeological discoveries suggest that humans have lived in Knysna for well over 300,000 years. The first of these were various San Hunter-gatherer peoples who inhabited most of Southern Africa in Paleolithic. The indigenous inhabitants of the Knysna area are a southern Khoekhoe people called the Houtunqua or Outeniqua. The first Europeans arrived in the area in 1760, and the farm Melkhoutkraal (literally translating from Afrikaans as "milk wood pen") was established on the eastern shore of the Knysna Lagoon.
George Rex, a British-born entrepreneur credited as being the founder of Knysna, acquired the loan rights to Melkhoutkraal in 1804 and later, in 1816, to the farm Welbedacht, which he renamed Eastford. Rex also started agitating for the government (by now under British rule) to establish a harbour inside the Knysna lagoon. This would get around the logistical difficulties of building a road through the thick forests that swaddled the coast, and help Knysna become economically viable.
In April 1817, the transport brig Emu, belonging to the Cape Town Dockyard, was the first European vessel to enter the Knysna Heads. She struck a rock, now known as Emu Rock, and was holed. Her crew ran Emu ashore to prevent her sinking.
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The next major settler in Knysna was Captain Thomas Henry Duthie, who married Caroline, George Rex's daughter, and bought a portion of the Uitzigt farm from his father-in-law which Rex had named Belvidere. The construction of a small Norman-style church was commissioned by Duthie on his property, and was consecrated in 1855.
At the time, Knysna was a field cornetcy of Plettenberg Bay within the Magisterial Division of George.
The Thesen Family and Their Legacy
Many visitors to Knysna know about Thesen Island. But few people know where Thesen Island got its name. The Thesens were a Norwegian family who settled in Knysna in 1870. Their discovery of this beautiful seaside town was quite by accident.
Arnt Leonard Thesen was born in 1816. In 1845 he and his brother Frederick Wilhelm Thesen established the company AL Thesen & Co. in Stavanger. On September 1868 an Economic Depression struck Norway and major clients in Stavanger defaulted on payments and business came to a standstill. AL Thesen & Co. Arnt Leonard Thesen decided to seek new pastures - immigration to New Zealand was considered. After restocking supplies in Cape Town, they encountered heavy weather just a few days out which damaged their sails and rigging. This forced them to return to Cape Town and while there for repairs, some traders approached them to deliver supplies along the coast.
On 6th April the Thesen family, who were emigrating from Norway to New Zealand, arrived in Knysna on the ship Albatros. With their sailing, commercial and practical skills, the large family soon set to work in the vast indigenous forests, extracting and exporting timber on the Albatros to the Cape for construction and boat building. The families arrived in Knysna in 1870. They moved into the house of William Macpherson in what was then Melville Street (now Main Street) known best today as Harry B’s but now the ‘Knysna Hotel’ and set about their business.
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The Thesens went on to play a leading role in developing the shipping industry in the area as well as various other industries including forestry, wood-processing, boat-building, and oyster farming.
Without doubt Charles Wilhelm Thesen was the driving force behind the fortunes of the Thesen family's Knysna business Thesen & Co. Although much younger than most of his brothers, Charles showed enormous ambition and drive and was a very astute businessman. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company from 1905 to his ‘retirement’. His brothers were reaching old age, some had died. It follows that his family members, specifically his sons and older grandsons, would have dominated the Thesen’s business operations through the third and fourth generation.
The Thesen family played a significant role in the development of Knysna.
Thesen Island: From Sandbar to Residential Hub
Charles Wilhelm Thesen, who rose to the head of the family firm, purchased the island that became known as Thesen Island in 1904. The name Knysna has appeared in various spellings since about the 1770's. At the turn of the 19th century, Thesen Island was just a grass-covered sand bar in Knysna Lagoon, only accessible at low tide. The land was included in the farm Melkhoutkraal and horses and cattle were grazed here.
In 1883 a causeway between the island and mainland was constructed to improve access to the wooden jetty. The Thesens then stamped their presence on the island, when their ship, the Ambulant, was the first to load cargo at the new jetty. For five decades the family either operated their own shipping business or acted as agents for other shipping lines in Knysna.
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In 1924 the Thesens moved their sawmill operation from the forests at Bracken Hill to the island and began manufacturing a variety of wood products. To maximise waterfront opportunities, Thesen Island was split into 19 individual islands and renamed Thesen Islands.
Aerial view of Thesen Island, now a residential suburb with shops and hotels.
Key Historical Events in Knysna
Here's a timeline of significant events that have shaped Knysna's history:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1760 | The first Europeans arrived in the area. |
| 1770 | The farm Melkhoutkraal was established. |
| 1804 | George Rex bought Melkhoutkraal from John Murray. |
| 1817 | The transport brig Emu was the first European vessel to enter the Knysna Heads. |
| 1870 | The Thesen family arrived in Knysna. |
| 1878 | A gold nugget was found in the Karatara River, sparking a mini gold rush. |
| 1904 | Charles Wilhelm Thesen bought Paarden Island (part of Melkhoutkraal), later known as Thesen Island. |
| 2017 | A devastating fire swept through the town and surrounding areas. |
Knysna's natural beauty has been heavily compromised by the rampant development of the town. Houses are being built further and further up the mountain slopes, and the vast informal settlement grows. One of the Knysna Heads is thoroughly pockmarked with over 100 large holiday homes, and this has destroyed much of its wild beauty. Ironically many of these houses were destroyed in a raging forest fire in 2017.
Today, Knysna remains a popular destination, attracting tourists and retirees alike with its stunning scenery, outdoor activities, and rich history. However, it is essential to balance development with conservation to preserve the unique character and environment of this remarkable town.
Knysna Forests | Western Cape | South Africa
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