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“Turtle Bay” known to old seafarers since centuries as a safe and secure anchorage where they could replenish fresh water and food on their voyages to and from the east. Between 1598 and 1710, the Dutch tried several times to establish a colony. The captains of the Dutch East India Company gave it the name "Schildpatt's Baai". The abundant ebony forests which covered the northern part of Mauritius provided best ship building material to repair broken masts or damaged vessels. In 1735, the first Governor of the French East India Company, Mahé de Labourdonnais, decided to establish Port Louis as the main harbour of the island, instead of Grand Port. Turtle Bay then became more significant. Around 1740, a naval arsenal was built, as well as an iron foundry and a gun-powder factory. In order to procure water for the workshops, a dam was built across the 'Rivière Citron' in 1743. This dam is still existent today. 8th May 1748, Admiral Boscawen anchored in Turtle Bay with a fleet of 23 British ships, in an attempt to take over Mauritius from the French. However, they got under heavy fire from the cannons of the Turtle Bay and Tombeau Bay batteries and never managed to land. After 4 days the fleet left, anxious to reach India before the monsoon season. 28th September 1774, a terrible explosion occurred. All buildings, with the exception of a sawmill, a flour mill and the building sheltering the ironworks were blown up. Early in the 19th century, Mr. Joseph Dioré took over the property at Turtle Bay 29th November 1810, a British fleet of 74 ships arrived in Mauritius carrying 16,000 men in all to take over Mauritius. The French surrendered and signed a negotiated capitulation on the 3rd December 1810. In 1856, the estate was acquired by Mr. Georges Courson de la Villeneuve, who became the mayor of Port Louis from 1859 - 1861. He renamed the property “Ville Vallio”, enjoyed a grand life style and became famous for his brilliant receptions. Mr. Pierre Adolphe Wiehé, a merchant from Port Louis, took over the estate and increased the capacity of the flour mill. A country-house was set in beautiful gardens overlooking the bay and was named appropriately ‘Mon Désir’. During the 2nd half of the 19th Century, Turtle Bay was also a favourite seaside "resort" for the wealthy citizens of Port Louis. The region around the estate was very lively. There was even a restaurant. “Turtle Bay” has again come back to life with the opening of Maritim Hotel. In 1973 Maritim Hotels of Germany became the owner of the land and then a new history of “Mon Désir” began. In 1990 a restaurant opened originally within the hotel. Now, 20 years later, the circle will be closed, Mon Désir is back at its historical place. Back into the “Château Mon Désir” and still appropriately named. The well preserved ruins of the old flour mill, the distillery and the dam built by Mahé de Labourdonnais have been declared National Monuments and form part of the National Heritage of Mauritius. Conservation of the natural environment of Balaclava and Turtle Bay is a priority of the hotel management since the start of the project. Turtle Bay is the first official Marine National Park of Mauritius.
The Ruins
In 1735, the first Governor of the French East India Company, Mahé de Labourdonnais, decided to establish Port Louis as the main harbour of the island, instead of Grand Port. Turtle Bay became more significant from then onwards. In 1739 the first hospital of Mauritius was completed at Turtle Bay for the sailors suffering from scurvy. Around 1740, a naval arsenal was built, as well as an iron foundry and a gun-powder factory. In order to procure sufficient water for the workshops, a dam was built across the 'Rivière Citron' in 1743. This dam is still existent today. All the iron used for the construction of the new capital and its harbour was produced at Turtle Bay. All the cannons, gunpowder and weapons used during the governorship of Mahé de Labourdonnais and his successful India campaign came from here. During that period, about 400 labourers were employed in the workshops. On request of the French East India Company, Labourdonnais also built defence batteries along the side of the bay. The gunpowder factory and the foundry were safe inside the estuary. Françoise DUTCH The captains of the Dutch East India Company gave it the name "Schildpatt's Baai". On some of the old Dutch maps the bay is also shown as "Ebbenhouten Baai" (Ebony Bay). FRENCH Around 1740, a naval arsenal was built, as well as an iron foundry and a gun-powder factory. In order to procure sufficient water for the workshops, a dam was built across the 'Rivière Citron' in 1743. This dam is still existent today. ENGLISH On the 28th September 1774, a terrible explosion occurred in the powder store. All buildings, with the exception of a sawmill, a flour mill and the building sheltering the ironworks, were blown up. Early in the 19th century, Mr. Joseph Dioré took over the property at Turtle Bay. Because of the existing water system, he transferred his flour mill from Port Louis to the estate. On the 29th November 1810, a British fleet disembarked in the north and reached "Moulin à Poudre". At daybreak the British decided upon Turtle Bay as their major provisioning station. The French signed a negotiated capitulation on the 3rd December 1810. Acquired by Mr. Georges Courson de la Villeneuve in 1856 who renamed the property Ville Vallio. He went bankrupt in 1863. Mr. Pierre Adolphe Wiehé, merchant from Port Louis, took over the estate and it was probably then that the estate was named Balaclava. Mr. Wiehé also had the most modern rum distillery of the time on the island. He had opened a school. His country-house appropriately ‘Mon Desir’. was set in gardens overlooking the bay. |
