“Baggies Beach,” the Story Behind the Name: The Fascinating Origins of This Iconic South African Beach and Why It Should Be on Your Travel Itinerary
As you step out onto the Views Three60 penthouse balcony on South Africa’s eastern coast, you’re greeted with a breath-taking view of Baggies Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Source: South Coast Sun by Holly Konig
With glorious blue waters and magnificent sunsets, this popular tourist destination has enthralled all who have visited it. And for good reason.
From the sandy shores, migrating pods of dolphins and whales can often be seen moving with the warm ocean current that passes alongside the coastal town, which has the benefit of creating warm temperatures in this area throughout the year.
One of the main attractions in the area is the nearby Aliwal Shoal, one of the stunning dive sites that this region is host to, pulling in divers during the warmer months.
And if hot weather isn’t your thing, Baggies Beach also has a great winter attraction: the annual “Sardine Run,” a massive migration of schools of sardines that draws fishermen from all over the world.
With a myriad of sea-side activities, from surfing, paddle skiing, kit surfing and fishing to dining out and shopping, there’s no end of things to do in Baggies Beach.
Baggies Beach: The Story Behind the Name
The origins behind the name “Baggies Beach” are not clear cut. In fact, Baggies Beach is also known by another name entirely – Warner Beach.
Source: Dan Dedekind
But how did this come to be? Where do the different names originate from? And most importantly, which one is correct?
Let’s take a look.
The History
Warner Beach, the original name of this area, was initially selected by surveyor P.A. Warner as a residential area in 1910 for government pensioners.
Soon, the Warner Beach we now know was founded in 1914 by two close friends, Fred Mohnhaupt and Gus Brown.
These young men met while working in the lucrative South African wool industry—Fred, a businessman, and Gus, who worked directly below him. They soon became fast friends and found a shared love of the entertainment world and travel.
Their social circle had grown extensively by that point, and they had many friends both in Durban and abroad. As such, travelling with friends was one of their favourite pastimes. They often toured across South Africa and overseas, attending various forms of entertainment.
Soon, in 1914, Fred and Gus saw a lucrative opportunity in Amanzimtoti, a larger area whose name translates to “Sweet Waters”—so named by the Zulu King, Shaka, who came up with the word “mtoti” to replace the traditional Zulu word for “sweet” (“mnandi”) so as not to wear out Nandi, his mother’s, name.
Source: Dan Dedekind
The land in this area was cheap, mainly due to the fact that there wasn’t much around. However, this didn’t deter the friends in the slightest; Fred had the capital and Gus the vision.
So, Fred bought up 82 acres of vacant land, approximately 0.33 square kilometres, and the friends promptly began the construction of necessary infrastructure.
Along with farmland to supply food to anyone visiting the area, the friends constructed the first hotel in the region, the “Strelitzia Hotel.” Instantly a big success with their extensive network of friends, the hotel soon saw a constant flow of people through its doors, hosting dances and other forms of entertainment each night.
The stunning ocean and opulent atmosphere soon attracted enough visitors to justify opening a second hotel, the “Strand Hotel.”
And before long, Warner Beach was thriving.
The Folktales
Baggies Beach is a massively popular surfing spot. It annually hosts the Baggies Surf Pro™, which draws in professional surfers from around the world, so it’s no surprise that the origin of the region’s infamous name has something to do with surfing.
According to local legend, Frank Gray, a then-local and avid surfer, seems to be the origin point of the beach’s iconic name.
One afternoon, Frank went out into the waves with a buddy of his, Peter Crowe. While surfing, Frank wiped out and lost his baggies in the process.
From that point on, he and his friend referred to the spot as “Baggies.”
But Baggies Beach, as we know it, isn’t where this hilarious incident took place. Rather, Frank lost his baggies at an entirely different beach—St. Winifred’s Beach, also known as Subway Beach.
Source: Dan Dedekind
The reasons behind how and why Warner Beach started being referred to as Baggies Beach are still unknown. Frank speculates that when newcomers came to the area, they heard the name “Baggies” and assumed that that must have been the name of the nearest and most popular beach.
The Answer
So, what most locals know as Baggies Beach is actually officially called Warner Beach, but you’ll probably hear both names used interchangeably.
To make things even more complicated, Warner Beach has a third name: Crane Beach, so named because a large yellow construction crane stood on the edge of the beach for years.
However, “Crane Beach” is used less often, and your best bet is to call the place by one of the other two names.
Final Thoughts
There you have it – the origin of Baggies Beach.
This beautiful tourist destination has everything you need, from a nearby gym to shops and malls, with restaurants found all throughout the wider area.
Most importantly, it’s got a rich history and a relaxed, friendly culture, making it a must-go destination for anyone.
Book your Views Three60 penthouse retreat today; and experience everything Baggies Beach has to offer.
