The Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, Deelfontein near De Aar
The stories of several “visiting” doctors are also woven into the chronicles of the Karoo. Several of these great medical men served at the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital at Deelfontein, near Richmond, during the Anglo-Boer War. Perhaps the greatest of them was Dr John Hall-Edwards, who headed the X-ray unit. Known as the “father of British…
Read MoreRose Willis: Chronicler of the Karoo
Voices of the Past is based largely on information collated and disseminated by Ms Rose Willis of Bloemfontein. Rose began collecting snippets of historical information in 1990 in Beaufort West, and issues the monthly newsletter, Rose’s Roundup. This little journal has built up a loyal readership, and you can join them by contacting Rose at…
Read MoreHunting in the Sneeuberg, 1856
In mid-July 1856, Robert Bain of Quagga’s Valley (one of William Southey’s farms), and George Murray of Naudesberg (in the Sneeuberg north of Graaff-Reinet), with his youngest brother Walter, rode over the mountains to the extensive flats around Cephanjes Poort, Kolhoek and Zaayfontein, to hunt mainly wildebeest and springbok. According to The Graaff-Reinet Herald of July…
Read MoreGallery in Prince Albert: Christine Thomas, Artist
Wellknown Prince Albert artist, Christine Thomas, is presenting a new exhibition. Entitled Een Mens Het Baie Name (One Person Has Many Names) it opens on April l and celebrates the words, works and world of Piet Balelie, a colourful local personality. “The exhibition is a multi-dimensional portrait of Piet, his extraordinary clothing and colourful hats,”…
Read MoreDavid Rawdon, who saved Matjiesfontein
An icon of the Karoo has passed on, but his dreams will never die. David Duncan Rawdon, the man, who loved life, enjoyed Spanish champagne and a good brandy will forever be remembered at his beloved Matjiesfontein. He re-created this village 40 years ago and turned it into the tourist spot that its original owner…
Read MoreVibrant civic life in Prince Albert
In 2012, a year of celebrations was held in Prince Albert. This included: The Garden Club’s birthday in February and the start of a new garden for the village; In March, the ACVV celebrated its 100th anniversary and Huis Kweekvallei turned 40; the extremely popular Olive Festival was held in April and in 2013, the…
Read MoreThe Prince Albert goldfields, 1891
The first nugget found at the goldfields, 50km from Prince Albert in 1871, was dug up by an aardvark. This nugget, found in an aardvark hole on Spreeuwfontein, a farm belonging to Mr Lodewyk Bothma, weighed 2,5 oz. It was rounded, water worn and had a few crystals adhering to it. No further finds were…
Read MoreA Narrow Passage And A Name Forever – 1884
When the railway line from the Karoo to Port Elizabeth was constructed in 1884, it had to pass through a very narrow pass between the Kikvorsberg and the Agter-Rhenosterberg mountains. The local Dutch-speaking community referred to this as “naauw poort” (the narrow pass). A village was established in 1894 in this strange little triangle of…
Read MoreNieu-Bethesda: Owls, Pilgrims and explorers
The attractive little town of Nieu-Bethesda, established in 1875, lies in the southern foothills of the Sneeuberg. Over it towers Compassberg, which at 2 502m is the highest peak of the range. This mountain was named by Governor Joachim van Plettenberg and Colonel Jacob Gordon in 1778 because from its summit they could “encompass a…
Read MoreDarlington: A Damn Fine Story
Small places are often guardians of wonderful tales. Darlington, a tiny hamlet, which ended in a dam, is a case in point. It was officially founded in 1905 by a hawker and Eastern Cape farmer, P.W.F. Weyers, who harboured a life-long grudge against the Boers because they shot and killed two of his cows on…
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