StayHere.co.za
Swellendam
"Swellendam - Historical heart of the Overberg"
|
Swellendam
After Cape Town and Stellenbosch, Swellendam was the third settlement to be founded by the Dutch East India Company. The Drostdy was completed in 1747 and in the same year the new district was named Swellendam in honour of Governor Hendrik Swellengrebel and his wife Helena ten Damme. Swellendam is a busy centre of a thriving agricultural district notable for wheat and wool and the largest output of young berries in South Africa. The town of Swellendam occupies a scenically superb situation in the Overberg at the foot of the Langeberg range where the four conspicuous peaks known as 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock and 1 o'clock form natural sundials by which early farmers told the time. The Drostdy, a national monument, is the only eighteenth century drostdy building that has been preserved in its original form. It stands on the eastern side of Swellendam on the bank of the Koringlands River close to the Cape Wagon Road, the route of early expeditions to the interior. This part of the route is now Swellengrebel Street. The yellowwood timbers used in the construction of the Drostdy were brought from the southern slopes of the Langeberg. The landdrost dwelling was the section furthest from the river. Closer to the river where three large rooms: the court room, the landdrost office and the office of his secretary. The man responsible for its siting and construction was the first landdrost, J.T. Rhenius. Eventually the Drostdy became privately owned and in 1856 it belonged to P.G. Steyn. It escaped the disastrous fire of 1865 and remained the property of the Steyn family until 1939 when it was bought by the State, restored and converted into the Drostdy Museum. Today it stands in a lovely formal garden that sets off its charming architectural features and it houses a fine collection of pieces associated almost exclusively with the history of the Swellendam district. The stately avenue of old oak trees on both sides of Swellengrebel Street provide an attractive entrance into Swellendam from the east. The original oaks date from the eighteenth century and the avenue of today has been proclaimed a national monument. Second only to the Drostdy as the oldest building is the Old Gaol, obliquely opposite the Drostdy across Swellengrebel Street. It has been restored and converted into a dwelling for the curator of the museum. Next to the Old Gaol is a small thatched-roof house still known as the Old Post Office. It was originally the residence of the gaoler who also filled the position of postmaster. In amongst the forests of indigenous trees and veld of wild flowers interesting foot trails into the Langeberg lead to the Clock Peaks and such places as Hermitage Kloof and Nooitgedacht Kloof. A permit must first be obtained from the Forester, from whom advice should also be sought. |
 Drostdy - Swellendam The Old Residency Dutch Reformed Church, Swellendam  Impangele Cottage, SwellendamOverberg Business Directory |
|
We Accept:  Credit Cards |
|
StayHere.co.za 18 Reunion Street Bredasdorp, 7280 Tel: 028 425 3004 Contact us |
||||
About Us | News & Weather Links | Join Us
Best viewed at 1024 x 768 resolution and 15 bit colour .
Copyright © 2008-2010 A. Conolly. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is presented as a guide only.
