Umzimkulu road bridge with remains of Bazley wall (Rock) and Kinsey Wall (concrete),harbour works in foreground
For years the settlers in the Port Shepstone area wanted to build a harbour to receive supplies and ship off their produce, mainly sugar. The river mouth was however difficult with a ridge of rock, 100m wide running across the mouth and dipping down on the northern bank, where the channel developed. Work first started on blasting away 3660 cubic meters of this rock reef. This work was done by a local, William Bazley. Parts of the removed rock was used to build the south training wall, of 320 m. which was designed, to add to the scouring by the tides and give sufficient draught for boats entering the harbour. The Somtseu was the first ship to enter the harbour in may 1880. A straighter wall, the Kinsey Wall was later built of concrete . The harbour was always treacherous and after floods had damaged the wall, rail had arrived 1901, and road transport was possible, the harbour activities ceased, and the training walls fell into disrepair.
Port Shepstone Lighthouse at Umzimkulu River mouth