HB0081

Did You Know?

The Old Rectory in Plettenberg Bay is a historic building dating to 1777, making it one of the oldest surviving structures in the town. It was originally constructed as a parsonage or rectory for the local Dutch Reformed Church community, reflecting the early colonial presence in the Cape Colony's eastern coastal region. The building is situated near the Plettenberg Bay lagoon and the old harbour area, which was an important anchorage for ships during the 18th century. Plettenberg Bay itself was named in 1779 after Joachim van Plettenberg, the Governor of the Cape Colony, who visited the bay that year. The rectory predates this official naming, indicating that a small settlement and church presence existed before the bay gained its current name. The building is a notable example of Cape Dutch vernacular architecture, with thick whitewashed walls and a thatched roof, typical of rural ecclesiastical buildings of that era. Today, The Old Rectory operates as a guesthouse and restaurant, preserving its historical character while serving modern visitors. It is recognised as a provincial heritage site in the Western Cape, contributing to the cultural landscape of Plettenberg Bay, which grew from a modest 18th-century outpost into a prominent coastal town. The structure's survival over more than two centuries offers tangible evidence of the region's early colonial and religious history.

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