Williston (Ward 1, Ward 5 and parts of Ward 3 and 6)

On 10 July 1768 Johan Abraham Nel of Stellenbosch rested near a fountain close to the Sak River during the birth of his son, planting an almond tree in honour of the event. This tree was eventually to become enormous, and was an oasis in the dry treeless area of the Karee Mountains.

In 1845 Johann Heinrich Lutz of Switzerland established a mission station named Amandelboom (Almond tree) at this spot. In 1883 the name was changed to Williston, in honour of the British Cape Colonel Secretary, Colonel H Willis.

Covering an area of 13,264 km2, Williston became an official district in 1926, focusing primarily on sheep farming. Since 1913, farmers were legally obligated to fence their boundaries, and in 1929, jackal-proof fencing replaced conventional fences.

There is a fantastic but eerie reason to visit Williston: a Tombstone Route, showcasing an exceptional form of art – stonecutting. Nowhere will one find more beautiful and fascinating tombstones than here. Tombstone-making became a form of folk-art as they were skilfully chiselled out of local sandstone.

In 1995, Dr. Bruce Rubidge of the University of the Witwatersrand discovered a fossil, Anomechephalus Africanus, on the farm Kruitfontein in the Williston district. It was a cross between a mammal and a reptile, which lived 260 million years ago on the banks of an inland sea.

This area is renowned for its corbel houses, with this building method considered the first architectural style in the northwest Karoo. It is unique in that it is entirely built of stone, with flat stones protruding from a domed roof, forming a scaffolding. Examples of these houses may be seen on the farm Arbeidersfontein, in the direction of Carnarvon, and along the Fraserburg road at Jan Klaasplaas and on Van Reenensplaas.

Williston is situated on the beds of the Zak River, a seasonal river where unique riverbed irrigation is practised, similar to that at the Nile River in Egypt. This region is also home to a very scarce and endangered animal, the Riverine Rabbit.

Fraserburg (Ward 2, parts of Ward 3 amd Ward 6)

The first Europeans settled in the area circa 1760. Previously the area was inhabited by the San or Bushmen. Various cultural artefacts of them remain in the area.

The town was founded in 1851. The town was named after the minister, Reverend Fraser, and a certain church elder, Meyburg. The town was established on the farm Rietfontein. The original manor house of this farm is still in use.

In those days, the only means of transportation and thus communication were horses and horse drawn carriages. Post was brought irregularly by stagecoach from Beaufort West. Most farmers visited the town as few as four times a year and then only for the Nachtmaal (Communion). Distances were gauged by the distance a horse could ride in one hour (about 6 miles or 10 kilometres).

Early in the twentieth century Fraserburg also got a telegraph connection. One can still see the remains of this line between Fraserburg and Carnarvon.

A Post Office opened in 1858, the first postmaster being a certain Robert C Hemming. That led in an era of development in the town. A Magistrates Office opened in 1859 with Mr FE Balston the first magistrate – he stayed on for the next 20 years. In 1860 a Police Station opened with Francois Bourke as first Chief Constable. Dr C Edmonds became the first medical doctor in 1860. A prison opened in 1861 and closed down more than a century later in 1968.

A public library started in 1866 in the “Peperbus”. The first bank that opened was a branch of Standard Bank in 1876. Volkskas opened only in 1956.

Fraserburg was proclaimed as a municipality on June 6, 1862. The first electric power was supplied on September 16, 1958 and the town switched to ESKOM power in 1983.

Fraserburg is a comfortable 5 hour drive from Cape Town. It is one of the most authentic and well preserved Karoo towns left in South Africa. It is a quiet and peaceful place where one can truly get away from it all without compromising on comfort, style and fun.

For the more adventurous there are numerous hiking trails which are quite breathtaking. There are also a number of 4×4 trails which do not disappoint. Besides the majestic scenery and self-catering accommodation, one will pass Corbel houses which are unique and are not found anywhere else in the southern hemisphere.

Another aspect which makes the area such an attractive destination, are the perfectly clear night skies. For the amateur or more serious sky gazer, this is reputed to be one of the best areas for this fascinating pass time.

For the hunter, there are a number of game farms which provide excellent and comfortable facilities only a short distance from the town. Game is predominantly Springbok, but Gemsbok, Eland and Wildebeest also abound.

Our town and its surroundings are still unspoilt and are guaranteed to stay that way. We understand that a person who makes the journey is special, and should be treated as such. It is a place worth visiting and we are quite sure, once you have been you will return again and again. And you’ll always be welcome. We look forward to having you.

Sutherland (Ward 4, part of Ward 3 and part of Ward )

Sutherland originated on the farm De List and was named after Rev. Henry Sutherland, who annually came to the Roggeveld from Worcester for church services. In 1855 it was decided to establish a congregation here. On 8 November 1858, 30 of 50 plots were sold.

Sutherland is situated at a height of 1450m above sea level on the southwest escarpment of the inland plato. At this height the area is exposed to all the cold air coming from the southwest. Due to the low moisture levels and thin air, heat radiation at night is high. The heavy cold air flows down to the lower valley where Sutherland is situated.

Sutherland is seen to be the coldest place in South Africa. The lowest temperature in 33 years of minus 16.4 oC was experienced on 12 July 2003.

Astronomy has the unique capability to spark the imagination of young and old, and provides the Municipality of Karoo Hoogland with exciting opportunities in the development of a unique tourism industry associated with astronomy in and for South Africa. See SALT and SAAO.

The growing of tulips in South Africa was pioneered by Rev M B Brink. In 1925 he arrived in Sutherland during a snowstorm. After studying for several years in Holland, he immediately realised the climate in Sutherland was approximately the same as in Holland, therefore ideal for tulip growing. He requested a friend of his to send him seventy five tulip bulbs. He stayed in Sutherland and for a period of twenty five years he distributed one hundred thousand yellow tulip bulbs throughout South Africa.