History of Graaff-Reinet
Graaff-Reinet is the oldest town in the Eastern Cape and the fourth oldest town in South Africa.
The first European inhabitants of the area were the Dutch trekboere (nomadic farmers) who moved away from the restrictive rule of the Dutch East India Company at Cape Town in search of suitable grazing for their cattle and sheep. The first official farms were awarded in 1770.Â
The town was founded in 1786 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a trading post and military outpost and named after Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff, the then-governor of the Cape Colony, and his wife Cornelia Reinet. The town was originally called “de Wiljdgelegen Colonie van Graaff-Reinet”, which means “the Wildly Located Colony of Graaff-Reinet”.
In 1795, the town’s burghers, who were annoyed with the policies of the remote central government in Cape Town proclaimed themselves to be the independent “Colony of Graaff-Reinet”. Their independence was short-lived and they were reincorporated into the Cape Colony after the conquest by the British late that year.
The new village of Graaff-Reinet developed slowly and was none the less pivotal to the development of the surrounding area. Skilled artisans such as wagonwrights, saddlers, blacksmiths, carpenters and builders swelled the population and by the mid nineteenth century the town was the most important settlement on the eastern fringes of the Cape Colony north of Port Elizabeth. The town was also a major stopover for travelers on their way to the interior of South Africa.
Graaff-Reinet played an important role in the Great Trek of 1835-1842. The town was a major supply depot for the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony to establish their own independent republics in the interior of South Africa. Many of the Voortrekkers passed through Graaff-Reinet on their way to Natal and the Transvaal.
Graaff Reinet became the centre of British military operations for the Eastern Cape during the Second Boer War.  In 1901, a number of captured Boer rebels were tried in the town for crimes ranging from high treason, murder, attempted murder, arson and robbery. Nine were sentenced to death, with eight of these being executed by firing squad on the outskirts of the town, while the ninth sentence was carried out in Colesberg.Â
Graaff-Reinet continued to grow and prosper in the 20th century. The town became a major centre for wool and mohair production and it also developed a strong manufacturing sector. Today, Graaff-Reinet is a thriving agricultural and industrial town.
Between 1965 and 1981 Dr Anton Rupert contributed significantly to the culture and heritage of Graaff-Reinet by actively supporting the restoration of many of the town’s most significant and important homesteads and buildings. His enormous contribution to the town has resulted in the development of Graaff-Reinet as one of South Africa’s most significant cultural and heritage centres with more than 220 listed national monuments.
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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. However, the town's growth was interrupted by the Second Boer War (1901-1902), during which it was attacked twice by Boer commandos.
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.
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), a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church also served as the first mayor of Steytlerville.
whose efforts resulted in the establishment of a new Dutch Reformed Congregation.
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 history of Steytlerville can be traced back to the early 1800s, when the area was first settled by Trekboers, or nomadic farmers. The first permanent settlement was established in 1875, when the Dutch Reformed Church purchased the farm Noorspoort. The church established a mission station on the farm, and soon a small town began to grow around it.
The town grew rapidly in the late 19th century and was an important trading center for the surrounding farming community Â
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.
