Town proclamation
After a petition by residents of Hermanus Peters Fontein in 1879 to obtain some form of control over their affairs and acquire security of tenure for their humble dwellings, the proclamation was published that established the town. In the Cape Government Gazette 7309 dated 10 July 1891 the names of the first three members of the new Village Management Board are published: James John Warrington, Daniel van Blommestein and Christoffel Henn.
The petition
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE
Petition of Inhabitants of Hermanus Petersfontein, Division of
Caledon.
Printed by Order of the House of Assembly, 1879
TO THE HONOURABLE THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE
The humble Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of
Hermanus Petersfontein, in the Division of Caledon.
HUMBLY SHOWETH,-
1. That your Petitioners have built their small houses upon plots
of land belonging to Government upon the sea-shore, and have thus
formed what is called the small village of Hermanus Petersfontein.
2. That we are, for the most part, poor fishermen, and occupy the
plots of ground above-mentioned almost solely for fishing purposes,
the said ground being entirely worthless for any other purpose, and
no gardens can be made thereon, composed as it is of sand and
stones.
3. That your Petitioners are paying quitrent for their plots of
ground, but are very desirous of obtaining transfer of the same, in
order to be able to build better houses, and improve the spot, on
which they have already schools for their children.
4. Upon application to Government, your Petitioners are informed
that they can obtain transfer only by paying a sum of money
immensely beyond the real market value of the barren erven.
5. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that their case may be
taken into consideration (as they believe their case to be
exceptional), and that the plots of ground they at present occupy
may be granted to them for real market value, and transfer of the
same afforded accordingly.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will for ever pray P. M.
MONTGOMERY.
(and 23 others)
Hermanus Petersfontein, Division of Caledon, June 30th, 1879.
The proclamation
THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE Government Gazette Tuesday June 2nd,
1891 PROCLAMATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY SIR HENRY BROUGHAM LOCH
Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint
Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable
Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s
Colony of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, and of the
Territories and Dependencies thereof, and Her Majesty’s High
Commissioner, &c., &c., &c. Whereas by the “Villages
Management Act, 1881” it is amongst other things enacted that the
provisions thereof shall apply to all such communities, not being
municipalities, as the Governor may by Proclamation in that behalf,
published in the Government Gazette, declare to be subject thereto;
and whereas it has been made to appear to me desirable that the
provisions of the said Act should be made to apply to the Village of
Hermanus Peters Fontein, in the Division of Caledon: Now, therefore,
I, the Governor aforesaid, acting with the advice of the Executive
Council, do hereby declare the provisions of the said Act to apply
to the said Village of Hermanus Peters Fontein, and that the same
shall be in force within the area bounded northward by “Raed na
Gael,” southward by the Ocean, eastward by the Mossel River and
westward by Wagebooms Kloof aan de Onrust Berg.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!
Given under my hand and the Public Seal of the Colony of Good
Hope, this 29th day of May,1891.
HENRY B. LOCH
Governor
By command of His Excellency the Governor in Council, J.W. SAUER
No 145,1891.
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 Monument at the old Harbour
 The fresh water spring from which the name of the town is derived
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 "St Peter´s Church")
 "Last resting place of William Hoy and his wife - overlooking Hermanus")
