caledon

Caledon

With the Swartberg as a backdrop, lies the town of Caledon, some 38 kilometres from the coast; famous for its hot springs and wild flowers (fynbos) and named in 1813 in honour of the Earl of Caledon, who was governor of the Cape from 1807 to 1811.
In 1710 Ferdinand Appel became the first settler to acquire land 'aant warm water' when he was granted freehold, 12 morgen adjacent the hot springs.
Ferdinand Appel, a Cape-born burgher, was considered to have been one of the first burghers to take up permanent residence in the Overberg.
Caledon became a municipality in 1884.
The chalybeate baths have been used since the days of the Dutch East India Company. At the fountainhead there are six thermal springs with a temperature of 50 degrees celcius and one cold spring. During the Victorian era a sizeable hotel was built at the site but this was gutted by fire in 1946 and was never reconstructed. Today there is a modern hotel, casino and spa on the site.
The 10 hectare wild flower reserve is at the entrance to Venster Kloof, so named after a curious rock which forms 'the window' (die venster). Through the careful planning of the reserve, wild flowers in great profusion are presented to their best advantage. A wild flower show is held in Caledon during September each year.
Caledon is also well known for its malting factory which processes 140000 tonnes of barley annually.