# Port Beaufort

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Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Port Beaufort Barry Church, Port Beaufort Port Beaufort Show map of Western Cape Port Beaufort Show map of South Africa Coordinates: 34°23′45″S 20°49′25″E / 34.39583°S 20.82361°E / -34.39583; 20.82361 Country South Africa Province Western Cape District Garden Route Municipality Hessequa Area [1] • Total 2.71 km2 (1.05 sq mi) Population (2011)[1] • Total 321 • Density 118/km2 (307/sq mi) Racial makeup (2011) [1] • Black African 9.7% • Coloured 2.2% • White 87.2% • Other 0.9% First languages (2011) [1] • Afrikaans 72.3% • English 26.0% • Other 1.6% Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)

**Port Beaufort** is a settlement in [Garden Route District Municipality](/source/Garden_Route_District_Municipality) in the [Western Cape](/source/Western_Cape) province of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa).

## History

It is a seaside resort, formerly also a harbour, on the north bank of the [Breede River](/source/Breede_River) estuary. The settlement was named after [Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort](/source/Henry_Somerset%2C_5th_Duke_of_Beaufort), the father of [Lord Charles Somerset](/source/Lord_Charles_Somerset).[2]

[Joseph Barry](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joseph_Barry_(South_African_businessman)&action=edit&redlink=1)'s business had a large influence on the city. He came from [London](/source/London) to South Africa in 1819 and quickly saw that it was easier to transport goods by sea between [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town) and the [Overberg](/source/Overberg). It took [oxcarts](/source/Bullock_cart) three weeks to travel from Cape Town to [Swellendam](/source/Swellendam). Barry immediately built a harbour on the north shore of the [Breede River](/source/Breede_River), which became Port Beaufort.

Once boats crossed the [sandbank](/source/Sandbank) by the mouth of the river, they could travel 40 km upriver to [Malgas](/source/Malgas),[3] where Barry also built a [wharf](/source/Wharf) and [warehouse](/source/Warehouse). After several ships sank near the mouth of the river and lost their cargo, Barry commissioned the construction in [Scotland](/source/Scotland) of a 150-ton steamship called the *Kadie*, which proceeded to successfully navigate the [estuary](/source/Estuary) for six years, until November 17, 1865, when it too foundered on the rocks on the southern shore.[3] Barry's empire collapsed the following year, as the arrival of the [railways](/source/Railway) eliminated the need for this sea route.

The town of [Witsand](/source/Witsand) is nearby.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-3) ["Main Place Port Beaufort"](http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/175010). *Census 2011*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-raper_2-0)** Raper, R.E. [*Dictionary of Southern African Place Names*](https://archive.org/stream/DictionaryOfSouthernAfricanPlaceNames/SaPlaceNames#page/n369/mode/2up). [Human Sciences Research Council (South Africa)](/source/Human_Sciences_Research_Council_(South_Africa)).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Stan01_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Stan01_3-1) Potgieter, D. J. (1973). [*Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa*](http://archive.org/details/standardencyclop0009djpo). Internet Archive. p. 13.

v t e Municipalities and communities of Garden Route District Municipality, Western Cape District seat: George Bitou Harkerville Keurboomstrand Kranshoek Kurland Estate Nature's Valley Plettenberg Bay Wittedrif Garden Route District within South Africa George Avontuur Bergplaas De Vlugt George Haarlem Herold Herolds Bay Hoekwil Pacaltsdorp Touwsranten Twee Rivieren Uniondale Victoria Bay Wilderness Woodville Hessequa Albertinia Gouritsmond Groot-Jongensfontein Heidelberg Port Beaufort Puntjie Riversdale Slangrivier Stilbaai Vermaaklikheid Witsand Kannaland Amaliënstein Calitzdorp Ladismith Vanwyksdorp Zoar Knysna Bracken Hill Brenton-on-Sea Buffelsbaai Farleigh Gouna Karatara Knysna Rheenendal Sedgefield Mossel Bay Boggomsbaai Brandwag Danabaai Friemersheim Glentana Great Brak River Hartenbos Herbertsdale Jonkersberg Little Brak River Mossel Bay Ruiterbos Vleesbaai Oudtshoorn De Hoop De Rust Dysselsdorp Matjiesrivier Oudtshoorn Schoemanshoek Volmoed

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