Property

The 300-year-old South African fishing town where luxury homes now sell for R40 million

Kirsten Minnaar • 15 August 2026

Yzerfontein, a historic West Coast fishing town dating back to 1732, is becoming a premium property destination where luxury homes can now sell for up to R40 million amid rising demand and limited stock.

Yzerfontein has a history stretching back thousands of years, with archaeological excavations uncovering evidence of early inhabitants and the tools and food they left behind.

The area’s modern history dates to 1732, when Cornelius Heufke received permission to graze livestock on a farm known as Eijzerfontein, named after the iron deposits found in its drinking water.

The area later became known for its salt pans, which were an important local industry. A harbour was built in 1911 to transport salt to Cape Town, while the historic thatched ‘Vishuis’ was used to store the salt.

By the 1920s, Yzerfontein had only five houses but was already a popular seaside camping destination for inland farmers.

Yzerfontein further developed after Abraham Katz’s company purchased part of the farm in 1937. This helped it gain town status and become a small harbour town.

During World War II, a radar station was established in March 1943 and operated by six women who monitored enemy ships, aircraft, and submarines.

The area also has a distinctive architectural heritage. Yzerfontein is home to South Africa’s only two remaining lime kilns, which were built by Dutch settlers to burn mussel shells.

The resulting lime was used to make cement, whitewash, and waterproofing materials. The kilns were declared national monuments in 1980.

Today, Yzerfontein has evolved from a small fishing and farming settlement into a sought-after coastal town, while still retaining many reminders of its historic past.

Buyer ages

Recent Lightstone statistics show that median sales prices in Yzerfontein have risen significantly over the past five years, reaching over R2 million for the first time in 2021 and exceeding R3 million in 2025.

Pam Golding Properties Western Cape area manager Samantha Nel explained that, of the 2,345 properties in Yzerfontein, about 40% are permanently occupied, while the rest are used as leisure properties.

“Many of these are owned by farmers and city dwellers who occupy them during holiday visits. But Yzerfontein also has a thriving hospitality sector, with properties catering for short-stay rentals,” she said.

“Although many new homes have been built since 2016, the percentage of permanent residents remains much the same.”

She noted that around 50% of the owners are from the Western Cape, 30% are from upcountry provinces, and 20% are from other countries.

“An increasing number of foreign buyers (‘swallows’) are showing interest in the high-end properties, so the international ratio is likely to increase in the future.”

Pam Golding has sold properties to buyers from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Poland, Germany, and Scandinavian countries.

“Because there are no retirement villages, many local residents sell in later life to move to retirement villages in Cape Town,” Nel explained.

However, she pointed out that there are plans to build retirement and lifestyle villages in Yzerfontein in the near future.

This is likely to accelerate the sale of properties – including seafront properties in the older part of the town – by senior residents to younger, affluent buyers.

“With new owners most likely to invest in upgrading these properties, Yzerfontein is well positioned to continue its evolution as the ‘Camps Bay’ of the West Coast,” she said.

These investments will see the area become an increasingly refined coastal lifestyle destination without losing its village appeal.

Younger buyers in the area are typically remote workers who are also homeschooling their children or who see property here as an investment.

Pam Golding Properties Western Cape area manager, Shelly Keys, explained that Yzerfontein is generally out of reach for first-time buyers.

Currently, an entry-level 160 m² two-bedroom home with a single garage costs about R2.5 million. This means the demographic is likely to become younger only once the village attracts more wealthy young buyers.

Yzerfontein property prices

Keys said that over the past year, two beachfront homes in Dassen Eiland Drive were sold for R28 million and R19.5 million, and a property in Beach Road achieved a price of R28 million.

“At present, we have several mandates for properties in the R20 million to R40 million price range, a price band where owners usually prefer to see their properties marketed discreetly. This is a growing trend,” she said.

She explained that vacant plots in estates are priced between R1 million and R8.5 million. Outside estates, beachfront vacant erven are normally marketed for R8 million to R10 million, and even up to R15 million.

Vacant erven with elevated uninterrupted sea views are generally priced from R6.5 million to R7.5 million, while vacant erven with broken sea views are typically in the price range from R2.5 million to R3.5 million.

“Vacant plots with sea views in estates are becoming increasingly rare, so buyers are starting to purchase old houses in the old part of town with a view to demolishing them and building modern homes,” she said.

Pam Golding sold one such property earlier in 2026. The entry-level estates in Yzerfontein are Fisherman’s Haven, Weskus Villas, and Eden Villas, with homes priced from R2.4 million to R3.2 million.

The mid-range estates are Strandveld Villas, Yzerfontein Heights, and Mile 16, where properties are priced from R3.2 million to R5 million.

In the top-end estates, Pearl Point and Ocean Villas, plots are priced from R4.5 million to R8.5 million and homes from R9.5 million. These are all full-title properties that are ideal for families.

“With Yzerfontein’s increasing popularity, many existing owners are reluctant to sell, so stock is fairly limited,” Keys said. “However, there is room for the further development of 1,500 properties within the urban edge.”

Yzerfontein is also seeing increased investment in local amenities and services. The town is known for the Rosmead Bakery and an array of good restaurants and coffee shops.

However, until recently, residents have relied on nearby towns such as Darling, Malmesbury, and Vredenburg for amenities such as schools and major medical and shopping facilities.

To cater for the increasing demand, a new private junior school has opened, and Checkers will be launching a store in 2027. Ceal Island Medical Centre and Yzer Med provide emergency medical services.

“Yzerfontein property prices have substantially increased in the past few years, and this is an excellent time to consider investing in this growing area,” Nel added.