Richmond House Cottages

Ship Ahoy Cottage

Ship Ahoy Cottage is so named for its outlook onto the Marina, the Kowie River and East Beach – and also because of the surveillance of the seas done from this property since the 1840s. The Hon William Cock, the 1820 settler, lived here and diverted the Kowie River estuary to create a successful port. From the top of the RH property he would watch for and signal to ships entering and leaving Port Kowie. He owned 13 ships, all of which were lost in or near the treacherous sand-barred narrow Kowie River mouth (which can be viewed from upstairs). The Cottage is nautically decorated in blues and beach colours.

The site on which Ship Ahoy was built previously housed stables, as the Kelly family (1930s-90s) were keen equestrians.

This cottage is surrounded by magnificent virgin coastal bush, including aloes and euphorbias. It is one of the prime spots on the property for spotting our Knysna loeries, paradise flycatchers, and a host of other birds. On two magical occasions we have even watched Cape Grysbok nibble in the garden around the cottage!

"Our first trip to Port Alfred made more special with our stay in your lovely Ship Ahoy cottage by the sea."