Hermanus by a wandering teacher and shepherd, named Hermanus Pieters, who apparently followed ancient elephant trails through the bush south Caledon towards the sea. He settled at a freshwater spring which later became known as Hermanuspietersfontein.

In 1855, this name was passed on to the village established on this site and was shortened in 1902 at the anguished request of the local postmaster! The town became a municipality in 1904.

One of the most significant contributors to the ‘village feeling’ of Hermanus was Sir William Hoy, who was the General Manager of the South African Railways at that stage in the early 1900's. He was a regular visitor to Hermanus and a landowner there, and despite his profession, ensured that the natural beauty of Hermanus would stay unspoilt by blocking any attempt to extend the Bot River railway line to the village. To this day, Hermanus must be the only town in world that has a railway station and no railway line!

There was a small natural harbour for fishing boats, tricky to enter but snug inside. Fish were caught in vast quantities and shipped to Kalk Bay. Anglers and holidaymakers were eventually attracted to the area. A village grew, with hotels and shops. Most of the buildings were white-walled (the lime is obtained by burning sea-shells) and black-thatched (reeds at the lagoon provide the roofing). The whole of the old harbour has been restored and converted into an open-air museum. Old-fashioned fishing boats have been placed on the ramp leading down to the water.Old buildings have been reconstructed, and now house a small museum.

Hermanus is historically rich with many interesting tales and facts about the people who sculptured the town into what it is today: from Sir William Hoy to Bientang, the last indigenous Khoisan ‘strandloper’ (beachcomber) who lived in a cave in town. Hermanus is also famous as a fishing resort. Many large sharks and kabeljou caught here. There is now a modern fishing harbour and numerous hotels, boarding houses and two caravan parks. The lagoon is favoured for yachting and aquaplaning. A scenic drive has been cut into the mountain slopes.