The Municipality of Hermanus was constituted on 9 September 1904 in terms of Proclamation No 298 under provision of the Municipal Act of 1882 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 8686 of 23 September 1904).

In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the local government bodies within the Hermanus Forum Area, namely the Municipality of Hermanus, Onrus River Municipality, Mount Pleasant Management Committee, Zwelihle Town Council, Sandbaai Local Council, Vermont Local Council and Hawston Management Committee was dissolved with effect from 1 December 1994 and the Greater Hermanus Transitional Local Council established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 4896, 30 November 1994, Proclamation No 71, 29 November 1994).

In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Greater Hermanus Transitional Local Council together with other municipalities was disestablished and the Overstrand Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5591, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 492, 22 September 2000). The Overstrand Local Municipality forms part of the larger Overberg District Municipality.

According to a declaration and a letter signed by the Town Clerk, Hermanus dated 23 October 1986 and 17 December 1984 respectively, the majority of archives have not remained preserved.