Exploring an Old Whaling Station | Bluff - Durban | South Africa

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During the 20th century there was a Whaling station located at the seaside town of the Bluff in Durban, South Africa. The station was used during 1907 to 1975. It has been almost 50 years since the closure of the station. I decided to do some exploring and took a trip to the old building to see what it looks like today.
Whaling is the hunting of whales for their usable products such as meat and blubber, which can be turned into a type of oil that was important in the Industrial Revolution. Whaling was practiced as an organized industry as early as 875 AD.
In 1986, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling because of the extreme depletion of most of the whales.
#exploring #history #whale

[@pillayphone2013]

Hi dude! I never comment on KZbin videos. But I must now comment that I have been bingeing your videos the last few weeks and I really enjoy them. I like the content but also that you have a chill, laid-back vibe. I hope the algorithm finds you and you get more subscribers!

[@SumeranGovender]

Hello, I am glad you are enjoying my videos and thank you for your kind words. Much appreciated 😀

[@robertlyness5218]

I lived very close to where you had to park from the mid 50’s until late 70’s . The beach in front of the whale station was known as Back beach. A really good fishing beach with deep gullies. When we were kids we used to walk down a bush path that started where the new stairs and ended close to the whaling station. Trains used to bring the dead whales from the harbour slipway to an open cutting area which drained into the sea. When the whale arrived men clad in water proof outfits would climb onto the whales with hockey stick shaped cutting tools . The meat and blubber were processed at that site and the cooking resulted in an awful smell in the area. We as kids soon learned where they hid the teeth and made several raids on their stash. After whaling was discontinued the military took over that part of the Bluff. Fishing and using back beach was out of bounds and if you crossed into that section the military would be on to you in a flash. The fish and rock life flourished in what amounted to a marine reserve. The old stairs down to the beach used to concrete and went straight down to the beach , no nice level bits . There also used to be a gunnery station on the beach near the bottom of the stairs. There are several world war bunkers and big artillery guns up near the light house which would make interesting viewing.

[@SumeranGovender]

Hi Robert I'm not sure if the army will let me go to the old war bunkers or artillery guns. What do you think?

[@robertlyness5218]

I think they would. It would be worth asking.

[@felixyoghurt3291]

That what you saw @2:53 was probably the remains of the SADF perimeter security fencing. 1 Reconnaissance Regiment (special forces) were stationed up above, they had a shooting range not too far from where you were at the whaling station. In the days of SADF, they used to use the whaling station for exercises and the troops used to run around on that beach. I believe there were SAR&H buildings on the other side of the Bluff that they used for training too and the Recce's did plenty damage to them. Those "things" you saw on the beach were concrete pill boxes for the defence of the Bluff during the 2nd World War. They weren't the only things, it was said there were big guns that came out on rails to shoot out to sea at ships and the Bluff had all these tunnels in it for military purposes. I cant put the link in here but if you google "1 Reconnaissance Regiment / sasfheritage" you will see some photos of where 1 Reconnaissance Regiment was.

[@SumeranGovender]

Hi Felix, Thank you for shedding some light on the things I was not aware of. I was not even aware of all these military stations here at the bluff.

[@felixyoghurt3291]

@@SumeranGovender I think there is some kind of military hospital there now. 1 Reconnaissance Regiment pulled back to Pretoria and disbanded I believe. Had a bother in that mad regiment. I would have loved to see all those tunnels in the Bluff but not to be, I am living 1/2 around the world now.

[@BloomingGoodOrchids]

Hi, it's actually a restricted area and it belongs to the naval base. They do tacklticle exercises there. Ppl are not supposed to walk around there. ....thought you should know.

[@hamzahkhan4687]

That's correct. A lot of artillery is on the sand . One can get fined for trespassing. Please put up a disclaimer in the video. I would personally remove it to avoid any legality issues. It's not worth the views.

[@ivanlabuschagne8324]

1960+-, when we were kids, we would walk there and ask for whales teeth. The sea was red with blood. A distinct line separated sea water from blood The whole Bluff stank when they cut the whales up after taking the whales off the trains

[@SumeranGovender]

Hi Ivan, thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[@Bezuidenhout474]

Yes that walk is hell. My son took me there when I was 60 years old. Not for the faint hearted. I only made it to the buildings as my son wanted to walk to the end of the pier and let me tell you the walk to the end of the pier was even longer than the walk to the buildings. It was beautiful to see. The walk back was harder and OMG those millions of stairs. The people at the top could not believe my son took me there at my age. He convinced me by saying . Ma it is not too far you can do it. We still laughed today as he himself could not believe how far it was to walk in that soft sand. 🤣🤣🤣Now I question him in detail when he invites me on an adventure. You can however drive down to the pump station and walk from there. We only found this out on our walk and past it. So sad to see how these army buildings have not been preserved.

[@SumeranGovender]

lol yes that is one difficult walk, Thank you for sharing your funny story 😂 I never walked past the buildings as it was already tired. That walk back up all those stair was unbelievable, I had to talk a few breaks going back up to the road.

[@NeelsBotha-qx6tn]

Sumeran, I really enjoyed your vid. You will see there are a few pieces of the railway line on your video. There are also some crossbars at the beer bottle. My late father build that line from Dbn harbour during the war time. From Dbn side you will also see the cutting on the mountain side that was dug for the railway line. I was never there but my sister (now 83) saw the whaling station as a small kid round about 1948

[@SumeranGovender]

Hi Neels thank you for sharing your story with us. I am glad to bring back some old memories for you.

[@DeranGovender]

Top videos man how was the walk back up

[@farahmohammed51]

What did the Anc did to assist to keep the beaches clean and safe from thugs, during apartheid regime it was beautiful and clean Durban was every one's main holiday spot with thier families not anymore.....

[@CarlBoock]

Whaling was a bloody business and blood attracted large shoals of shad and sharks .The 2nd hole to right of bunker got the name sharks pool as a result of sharks .The Sadf built the fence in the middle of our favourite fishing Hole next to the WW2 bunker . Whales were winched off flatbed railway wagons and cut up in open area in middle you can see bunker on beach and remains of the old ash tip. They would dump blood and stuff from wheel barrow into sea ,so was a good fishing spot ,were many Indian fishermen there .

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you for sharing your experience of what it was like when it was in operation.

[@junewilliams1629]

I went there as a child...caught the flatbed train trucks that carried the dead whales brought in by the whaling boats... theyd be hauled up a slipway at the station and men with long poles with scythe-like knives cut them up..cut the blubber off for the oil, then meat cut into chunks. One could buy whale meat to eat in those days (1960's). My sister and I were each given a whale tooth. It was sad to see the many little whaling boats with dead whales tied to their sides by their tails. Great when it stopped!

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you for sharing your story with us June.

[@oldschoolshaving]

Great video bro! As a fellow dbnite I salute you! I’ve just subscribed ❤

[@SumeranGovender]

Thanks for the sub and welcome 😁

[@ambisun9828]

You are a very brave man to do this adventure and take care 😊😊❤

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you, I will

[@joelnaidoo964]

those fences was built by the old army base, for training and nobody could cross it in old days

[@yvonnegreen6738]

My late husband's grandfather ran the whaling station for many years. He and his family were from Norway.

[@DeranGovender]

I did this trip 5 months ago the walk back up is hectic

[@SumeranGovender]

It was crazy, at least on the I went it was not hot but even so it was exhausting.

[@pranavramraj5141]

Awesome video, search a unique and interesting spot. Didn’t know Durban had a whaling station. Thanks for the entertaining content🔥

[@SumeranGovender]

Glad you enjoyed the video 😁

[@shirleygovender4146]

Nice video i wish to go there one day it must be cloudy and windy it's long walk it's dangerous stay safe

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you Shirley 😁

[@farahmohammed51]

We knew before Durban was a beautiful place why now so scary.....

[@durbanguyuk]

Beautiful bluff, use to snorkel in the rock pools by the old whaling station, before they put these nice new stairway going down. The old steps were massive concrete blocks that were all storm damaged and at various angles making it a real mission getting down. That kzn coastal bush is great, very special place.

[@muhammadnizamie8740]

I not sure if you will be able to do a video on this or if there is any information on this subject.. I m talking about the 2 unused rail lines in clairwood/Mobeni ( one is next to clairwood hospital and the other is further down on grimsby road / Higginson I've tried ro find information about it like when was it used whatvwas it used for and when was it closed However I could not find anything

[@SumeranGovender]

I need to investigate further into this but I'm sure they are disused. No history about it

[@keashaneverts4452]

Hahaha so sick if i had the resources i would also love to try my hand at Urban exploration XD. But for now i will just suscribe to the channel instead.

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you 😁

[@dougclarke8267]

Very interesting how many know that there was a whaling station in Durban

[@ameersahabfaruki3215]

Very nice video thanks for the informative content. Success to your channel

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you for watching Ameer. 😀

[@ralphdavey7303]

Hi. The whales were brought into the harbour entrance and pulled up a slip way. They were loaded onto railway flat car coaches and taken around to the processing factory you showed. If you watch a good shark documentary film Blue Water White Death you will see some of the last footage of the whales being brought into the harbour.

[@SumeranGovender]

Hi Ralph thanks for this information

[@joelnaidoo964]

I walking from sloanes road thru garvies beach fishing

[@akesh2571]

Interesting and informative video would like to visit however the concern is parking

[@SumeranGovender]

Yes, you are right about the parking and it is a long walk especially coming back up the stairs.

[@farahmohammed51]

Due to fear neglected badly

[@BloomingGoodOrchids]

It used to be be all fenced it but with the storms we had , everything got washed away. Its still a restricted area. Pvt property.

[@Slippery_Pickle47.3]

Public property, but if you tell the army grunts, you’re there to catch snakes, you get unlimited access

[@deshmirmoodley1934]

Lol top video, careful going alone tho

[@Fres-no]

Thanks Dude, this is great stuff, 4 us Gauteng landlubbers! 10/10

[@SumeranGovender]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ulrichpike5805]

Recce hangout ⚔️

[@stubromac2711]

Those stairs looked pretty serious😂

[@moll5086]

Hi Dude I watched your video on the old buildings of the abandoned whaling station. In 1961 I was fortunate to be taken by my Dads Cousin Stan Chaiken to see the whales being brought in on a train to the station and within a short while the whole whale was carved up by guys and the remains of the whale was pulled up on an enormous escalator inside the building. Well my mother took cine footage which has subsequent been transferred onto a DVD. I would love you to see the footage.

[@SumeranGovender]

Hi thank you for sharing your story with me. Where are you from sir maybe we can try and get that footage.

[@leonventer946]

Did you go there alone? And is it not dangerous to go by yourself?

[@SumeranGovender]

No, I had some family with me, but there were other people on the beach fishing.

[@jackymoonsamy7501]

Really felt like we were a part of the adventure

[@SumeranGovender]

Hi Jacky I'm glad you enjoyed my video

[@eunicedavid9581]

Admire your determination in doing those stairs...salute

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you 😁

[@dempsymoonsamy1285]

it would be easier to drive to the lighthouse and down.the first section with white tiles was the process plant.the 2 concrete pillers used to be the point whales were pulled on rail trucks.

[@SumeranGovender]

I tried using the army base, but they would not let me pass. Oh cool did you used to work there ?

[@farhanatoerien3437]

It’s so sad to see all the litter on the beach

[@RajenMoonsamy-r5f]

You are very brave to go so far but I need to visit this place well done

[@SumeranGovender]

You should!

[@craigmurugan7587]

U a very brave fellow going alone to such an abandoned place.

[@ekkieries7290]

its a millitary base, the broken wall is the border of the base

[@johnsondayal7842]

My Dad too me there when I was 6 years old, that's 54 years today. It's was bloody. I love history but dislike cruelty to nature.

[@Gareth-v8x]

Great video

[@arcadesunday4592]

I've visited here myself and can definitely say its worth all the effort. Those stairs on the way UP though! Haha! Nice video.

[@markduncan6690]

Five Thousand Steps Going Up!

[@SumeranGovender]

Lol yeah

[@arcadesunday4592]

Only 5000? Haha! Those stairs are KILLER!

[@akbsa333]

The trek back up the stairs, yaaaarrrr

[@SumeranGovender]

Can you imagine 😐

[@arcadesunday4592]

Tell me about it ! Yoh!

[@farahmohammed51]

Its dangerous that's what we heard please be safe and cautious, from what was heard Durban is no longer safe alot of thugs , it's unknown I'm assuming not suggesting that's the reason we couldn't go to Durban but surely we want to visit the Fisk market and spice we love the Durban spice please tell me Victory street is not dangerous due to our number plate we not attracted by thugs

[@farahmohammed51]

Are you safe ,I must admit you very brave person videotaping the area please watch all sides if safe I'm scared it looks quite haunted once it was very beautiful with my late dad I was a little during that time

[@farahmohammed51]

Place is abandoned thanks for sharing brought back us to memory lane though it's a beach it should be the first priority

[@farahmohammed51]

You a very interesting role model for exposed of the terror of the beach ,it should be secure and convenient also considering the beach every one loves to be at, many attacks took place with our family members at the bluff please tell us how is the sea point

[@farahmohammed51]

Thanks a million for the video brother please don't go back at the same place you took videos

[@bigskunk801]

In case you didn’t realize. The reason people walk in or near the water on the beach, is because the sand is hard and it’s easier to walk on.

[@sajida3675]

Thank you for sharing 🤗

[@SumeranGovender]

You are so welcome

[@sajida3675]

@@SumeranGovender 🤗

[@stevemaynard1957]

There was a ferry over from embankment. Friend and me went over. Needed a piddle badly and found some derelict toilets. Standing at urinal was suddenly surrounded by SADF from base on top. Told to leave as its part of the base.

[@SumeranGovender]

Wow that must have been scary 😨

[@alanmuller5374]

This is solid gold content, Sumeran! I have known about the whaling station for many years but never went in search of it. There are photographs and poetry about the place but now I have actually seen it. Thanks!

[@SumeranGovender]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you, Alan 😁

[@ladybird74786]

Such a great and informative video! Thank you …great reminders of home ❤ “If you thinking about coming here, don’t come” 😂

[@SumeranGovender]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😁

[@farahmohammed51]

Oooh brother noo it's too dangerous

[@CarlBoock]

The maritime museum had a DVD that gave history of whaling union station was also primier station nearer the south pier.orginal steps to bunker were cement ,was also a path that ran diagonaly to station when was operational

[@SumeranGovender]

Are you talking about the one in town?

[@SandraGengiah]

You so daring Sumeran

[@robertcarr4172]

So much trash on the beach

[@yvonnegreen6738]

Whales were pulled out of the water in the harbor and put onto a train to transport to the whaling station.

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you for sharing Yvonne 🙂

[@MrJonoWick_]

Top vid bud great content enjoying ur little adventures 😂😊

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you 😁

[@markreddy7211]

Thanks for sharing,very informative video bru

[@SumeranGovender]

My pleasure 🙏 thank you

[@umbigaperumal427]

Thanks for the informative video 😅😅

[@SumeranGovender]

My pleasure 😊

[@SandraGengiah]

Lovely videos Sumeran

[@SumeranGovender]

Hi Sandra Thank you

[@Carene1610]

Is this by the army base?

[@SumeranGovender]

Yes

[@davenaicker2753]

Awesome thanks

[@SumeranGovender]

No problem! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@ariefsheik1716]

Wow whale of a tale

[@SumeranGovender]

Thank you

[@ameersahabfaruki3215]

Where is this

[@SumeranGovender]

Hi Ameer it's by the Bluff

[@nerashasingh5247]

Isipingo Beach

[@SumeranGovender]

Bluff beach

[@nerashasingh5247]

Demolished Seaheaven is in Isipingo Beach

[@craigfrancisy24u]

Ar shame , you didn't do enough research hay

[@SCELO_MYEZA.]

I work at Durban Beachfront, and I always wonder what's on the other side of the military base 🤔? Now I know 😂, thanks to you 🫡.

[@SumeranGovender]

My pleasure 😁