Bringing Swallow Park Back to Life
This is an important initiative underway - "Bringing Swallow Park back to life."
Hermanus History Society
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U3A Overberg & Hermanus History Interest Group are two organisations with one mission.
Connecting the community through lifelong learning and shared heritage.
U3A Overberg was established in the early 2000s by Dr Robin Lee and a dedicated team of volunteers.
Today, the branch has grown to more than 400 members and is managed by a volunteer committee. It is funded through an affordable annual membership fee, supplemented by a nominal fee for each session attended. Talks are also open to visitors, who are always welcome to join.
Meetings take place in the hall at Our Lady of Light Catholic Church, equipped with audio-visual facilities to support the programme of guest speakers and Zoom presentations.
The Hermanus History Interest Group (HHIG) brings together people who share a passion for the history and heritage of Hermanus and its surrounding areas. Back in 2007, a small community group began compiling a timeline of Hermanus’s history at the request of the Heritage and Aesthetics Committee, inspired by the late SJ du Toit, a respected writer on the people and places of Hermanus and Stanford.
The group later became the Hermanus History Society (HHS), developing a programme of lectures, a growing library and an archive of recorded talks that has reached audiences well beyond the local community.
In January 2025, the HHS amalgamated with U3A Overberg and became the Hermanus History Interest Group. Former HHS members automatically became members of U3A Overberg, and the HHIG now operates as an affiliate, with two of its members serving on the U3A Overberg Management Committee.
U3A Overberg & Hermanus History Interest Group offers a varied annual programme of talks, presentations and learning opportunities, bringing together people with a shared interest in knowledge, discovery and the Overberg region.
Although the programme is designed for members, visitors are welcome to attend any session.
Guest Speakers:
The programme features approximately 80 meetings across two semesters, with two meetings a week led by guest speakers who are experts in their fields.
Topics include:
Zoom & Digital Talks:
Selected meetings feature Zoom presentations by speakers from elsewhere in South Africa and around the world.
The programme also includes curated DVD screenings.
Contact U3A Overberg & Hermanus History Interest Group for more information about the programme and upcoming events.
U3A Overberg & Hermanus History Interest Group maintains a library of more than 100 books dedicated to local history and heritage, alongside a growing archive of recorded talks.
The collection offers a valuable resource for anyone interested in discovering more about Hermanus and the surrounding Overberg region.
Through books, historical research and recorded presentations, the group helps document and share stories of the people, places and events that have shaped the area.
U3A Overberg & Hermanus History Interest Group shares regular newsletters about upcoming talks, presentations and activities on the annual programme.
It also includes summaries of past meetings, offering visitors an opportunity to revisit topics and insights shared by guest speakers.
Alongside programme updates, the newsletter features news, information and items of interest to the wider Overberg community.
It also serves as a valuable link between members, helping them stay connected, discover new learning opportunities and remain engaged with the many activities and interests that form the heart of this vibrant learning community.
Are you interested in the history of Hermanus and the Overberg, and in preserving the stories, places and heritage that make the region unique?
U3A Overberg & Hermanus History offers members an opportunity to explore these interests, learn from knowledgeable speakers, and connect with others who share a passion for lifelong learning and local history.
Membership is open to Overberg residents and non-residents, welcoming anyone who enjoys discovering new ideas, expanding their knowledge and learning more about the region’s past.
Interested in joining?
For more information about membership, upcoming programmes and how to get involved, contact U3A Overberg & Hermanus History directly.
This is an important initiative underway - "Bringing Swallow Park back to life."
You can now see one of our Hermanus History boards from Misty Waves Guest House on Marine Drive.
Francois Le Vaillant was the most widely read, translated and influential early traveller to the Cape which he...
As ox-wagon traffic to, from and through the Overberg increased in the 18th and 19th centuries, so too did the...
The coastline of greater Hermanus (an area from Voëlklip to Fisherhaven) has attracted painters and write...
A History of Human Settlements in the Overstrand Area by Dr Robin Lee.
