1867 - The Sanatorium

Dr Joshua and his brother William built The Sanatorium. Dr Hoffman had his consulting rooms in the Sanatorium for local patients and the facility also attracted both local and foreign tuberculosis patients who wished to recuperate and be treated in the ‘champagne air’ for which Hermanus has always been famous.

The hotel was built in 1896 by Benjamin Rainsford, who was commissioned by Dr Joshua Hoffman and his brother, William. Rainsford was a wellknown stonemason from Riviersonderend. After completing The Sanatorium, he decided to stay on in Hermanus.

Dr Hoffman was married to Maria Smuts, the sister of General Jan Smuts. General Smuts himself frequently stayed at the Sanatorium. Whenever he did stay, he took an early morning dip in Fick’s Pool and often walked up the mountain above Mountain Drive in Northcliff.