WALVIS BAY
Town at the mouth of the Kuiseb river. It was administered by a village management board from 1925 and by a municipal council from 1931. Takes it name meaning ‘whale bay’ from the bay on which it is situated. The bay is an inlet on the Atlantic Ocean. Named Golfo de Santa Maria da Conceicao by Bartolomeu Diaz on 8 December 1487. Later known as Golfo de Baleia, or ‘bay of whales’ by the Portuguese. The Walvis Bay enclave was a British section. Remained part of South Africa after independence. Transferred to Namibia in
Godenfang, Atlantic St
• Godenfang, Atlantic St – Meaning “goeie vangs”. Walvis Bay’s oldest house. It was built by the Beug family in 1930. It remained in this family until it was purchased and converted to a restaurant in 2018.
Rhenish Mission Church
• Rhenish Mission Church, 5th Rd – The church was prefabricated in Hamburg, Germany in 1879. It was constructed entirely out of timber. Brought to Walvis Bay in sections by ship. It was erected in the harbour area in 1880. In 1891 the church was enlarged and in 1918 it was moved to its present location. At the new site it was decided to plaster the outside walls with cement to prevent rotting. It was used as a mission church until 16 January 1966. To prevent demolition the Walvis Bay Lions Club with the aid of funds purchased the site. Being the oldest building in Walvis Bay it was proclaimed a national monument on 24 November 1972
Railway Engine no 652
• Railway Engine no 652, in front of railway station, 6th st- Also known as “Hope”. Manufactured at Kerr, Stuart & Co ltd, Stoke on Kent. It arrived from London on 22 August 1899. Only an 18 km railway line between the port in the British enclave and the German boundary was built to bridge the dune belt. Shifting sand buried the line. Until 1905 the locomotive was put to little use. Only used to shift cargo. It was put at the Windhoek station and relocated here in 1963. Proclaimed a national monument on 15 April 1953.
