This area developed with the railway's arrival in early 1900, followed 15 years later by construction of a rudimentary whaling station at its northern extreme. As with many South Coast settlements, its name was derived from a land surveyor s fond memory of the 'Old Country' and much criticised by certain historians and newspaper commentators of the day, who believed all these frontier districts should retain their traditional Zulu names.
Umdoni Park & Golf Course, Ocean View, Kelso, Sezela, Bazely Beach, Ifafa, Elysium and Mtwalume are popular resorts in the Pennington area.