The History of Humewood pillars

Coupla ou's spent a lekker morning climbing and diving off the pillars at Hummies yesterday. Got me thinking whether the lighties even know what the history behind the pillars and the slipway is, versus being these random bits of concrete and steel.

Seeing as school's back, let's have a quick history lesson! Before the harbour was built back in the 1930's, boats that needed to be repaired came in at what was then known as the Humewood Slipway. The boat would sail in between the pillars (which are the 6 concrete stacks you see today) and then get pulled onto the slipway (the steel bit) using a steam pulley.

The slipway fell into dis-use after the harbour became established, but luckily for us they built things properly back then. Which means today the structures still exist - and contribute to making one of the best surf spots in the bay! (oh, and before it became a slipway - it used to have a hospital for ou's with leprosy!!)

Humewood beach, taken from where Brookes Pavilion area and looking down towards where the beach and slipway is today. The building was a hospital for infectious diseases called the Lazaretto! Humewood Beach was as far out of town as you got in those days. The river is the Sark River (now called Shark) which was flowing through what today is Happy Valley.

Humewood was the end of the line back in those days...as far outta town as you could get!

The old rail bridge that crossed the Sark River. Yip - it was actually Sark..that over time got bastardised into Shark ...which is where Shark Rock got it's name from - and hence the new pier being Shark Rock Pier

Here you can see a ship pulled up on the slipway - it's funnels sticking out from behind the building

Taken in the '50's. Check that kiff lil wave - and no-one out!! Millers looked like it was cooking too!

Humewood was THE beach back then. All the larney's used to go there

FInally someone ou's started surfing! Check out the No Surfing sign. Humewood was a no-surf zone from back in the day cos of a municipal bylaw. Check the ropes in the top right of the shot- they used to run from the pylon across to the pole on the breakwater on the other side of the beach (where Suicides is today). There were ropes hanging down into the water from the main rope - there for guys to hang on to when they swam out!

Still a classic wave 50 years later! Greg Heasley slotted back in August 2012. Wanna see the rest of the shots from this day? Just click the image.

Dieter & crew having a braai on the pillar last year - great effort! Click the image to see more pic's of the great braai masters!

Just like rolling 6 on a dice! Humewood gets 6 stars for sure. Image Jonker Fourie