Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Simon van der Stel,

discovered the rich copper deposits of Namaqualand during

1685. Unable to find a suitable harbour from which to export

the ore, 158 years passed

before, in 1843, revived interest in the rich copper fields of

Namaqualand saw attempts to transport the copper ore by

ox wagon or by boat from the mouth of the Orange River to

the Cape of Good Hope.

These endeavours proved futile and pioneer miners became

increasingly despondent. Providentially in 1846, Thomas

Grace, a ship’s captain discovered a small natural harbour

where he immediately established a trading station. A big

gneiss rock resembling a dog inspired him to name the place

“Hondeklip Bay”. The first Copper Mines commenced

production between 1850 and 1852. On 31st August 1852 the

Bosphorus

shipped the first eleven tons of copper ore from Hondeklip

Bay directly to Wales. Increased shipping to and from Cape

Town also brought about better living conditions to the

Namaqualanders who were quite unused to “luxuries” such

as tea and sugar.