How did the Knysna Beacon come into existence?

The birth of the Knysna Heads Beacon.

It’s 1865.

A red arrow- headed beacon. (A triangle with slats across it) was erected on the island, today known to us as Leisure Island, as a marker for the shipping community by the crew of the HMS Rapid.
In 1879, Pilot John Benn II discovered a plate in the sand nearby the beacon that read, ” This Beacon was erected by Captain Jago and the crew of the HMS Rapid – 30 November 1865.”
Later, it was replaced by the mast of the St. Ebba, a whaling boat that was wrecked 4 May 1916.
It’s only on 11 June 1971 that the famous “Inner Transit Marker” was replaced by the telescopic pole, and the forward white conical beacon was erected.
Up to this day, the people of Knysna still refer to it as ‘The  Beacon ‘, and many a mariner entering the channel welcomes the sight of the lights winking every 3rd of a second.

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