History of Willowmore and Steytlerville

Willowmore is known as the “Gateway to the Baviaanskloof”  and was founded in 1864 by William Joseph Moore. Moore was a British settler and owned a farm called “The Willows” on which he started a trading centre in 1856. Moore and his brother-in-law, Frederick Lehmkuhl, donated land to the Dutch Reformed Church in 1864 and the town of Willow-Moore was established. In 1874 a magistracy was established and Willowmore became a municipality in 1884. 

Eight years after its establishment in 1856, Willowmore was growing at a rate that justified a Dutch Reformed congregation. Yet before even considering a proper church, a spacious parsonage was erected for the first minister, Dominee P.N. Ham, who arrived on the ship Brasilië from Holland. He only stayed for two years and was superseded by Dominee George Murray, brother of the famous missionary Andrew Murray. He at least got a church, building work started in 1874, and the church was inaugurated on 12 October 1878. This church was demolished, making way for a church of modern design in 1963.

The town grew rapidly in the late 19th century, and by the early 20th century, it had a population of over 2,000 people. Willowmore was a major trading center for the surrounding area, and it also had a thriving Jewish community. The old synagogue can still be seen on Victoria Street. However, the town’s growth was interrupted by the Second Boer War (1901-1902), during which it was attacked twice by Boer Commandos under the command of Commandant Gideon Scheepers on 19 January and 1 June 1901.

After the war, Willowmore’s economy recovered and the town continued to grow. In the 1920s, the town was connected to the national railway network, and in the 1950s it was connected to the national electricity grid.

Today, Willowmore is a small town with a population of about 10,000 people. It is still a major trading center for the surrounding area, and it is also a popular tourist destination, due to its proximity to the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Steytlerville is situated on the right bank of the Groot River, where the river emerges from a valley in the Grootrivierberge at Noorspoort. In 1875, the farm Noorspoort was purchased from the Cape Government to establish a town and church. A surveyor was contracted to subdivide the farm and to survey 200 erven. The town was established in 1876 and named after Reverend Abraham Isaac Steytler (1840-1922), whose efforts resulted in the establishment of a new Dutch Reformed Congregation. He also served as the first mayor of Steytlerville. 

The exceptionally wide Main Street of Steytlerville was designed at the time to allow ox wagons to turn around at both ends. Nowadays it is divided by flower boxes planted with bougainvillas in the centre and the lamp poles are adorned with the coats of arms of families associated with the town and area. Houses provide fine examples of Edwardian and Victorian architecture.

The town grew rapidly in the late 19th century and was an important trading center for the surrounding farming community  

Steytlerville played an important role in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). The town was garrisoned by British troops, and it was used as a base for operations against the Boer commandos. The town was also the site of a number of battles during the war.

After the war, Steytlerville continued to grow and prosper. The town became a major center for the mohair industry, and it also developed a number of other industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism.

Today, Steytlerville is a small but thriving town. It is home to a number of historical buildings, including the Dutch Reformed Church, the Lady de Waal Bridge, and the Steytlerville War Memorial. The town is also a popular destination for tourists, who come to experience the Karoo landscape and to visit the mohair farms in the area.