Adelaide
Municipality
Municipality: Nxuba Local Municipality
District Municipality: Amatole District Municipality
Town name
The origin of the name could not be verified, but the town is most likely named after the British Queen Adelaide.
Attractions
Adelaide, with a population of about 12,000, lies south of the Groot Winterberg
Mountains. It is about
Adelaide is great for nature lovers, as it is in close vicinty of six different biomes.
Adelaide Heritage Museum
The Adelaide Heritage Museum is in the Dutch Reformed Church parsonage (pastorie) which served as the home for the minister for 104 years: from 1860 to 1964. This double storey colonial house is now a National Monument.
San rock paintings
San rock paintings can be viewed in the area.
Things to do
Mountain biking, rock climbing, 4x4 trails, cycling routes, game viewing, hiking trails, bird watching.
Sport
Adelaide's golf course was established in 1892. It has 9 holes.
Squash, tennis, bowls.
Fishing: bass and trout fishing
Events
Annual Winterberg Mountain Bike Race - October.
Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve
The Fort Fordyce Nature
Reserve is about
History
The San (Bushman) are the oldest known people to have lived in the area. In the 1700s Dutch speaking Europeans (later to be called Afrikaners) moved into the area from the southwest, and Nguni-speaking tribes from the northeast. The behaviour of both groups lead to the extinction of the San tribes in the area.
In the early 1800s the British established a military post on the southern bank of the Koonap River (in the San language Gonappe), south of the modern town Adelaide. Ruins of the post can be viewed on the farm Haddon.
In the 1820s groups of British, particulalry Scots, settled in the area. The invasion of these Europeans into the area lead to several clashes with particularly Xhosa tribes who were now also settled in the area. These clashes are known as the Frontier Wars.
The Scots mainly settled in the Mankanzana River Valley. At Glen Thorn they built the first Christian Church in the area.
In 1834 the military under Captain Armstrong built a fort and named it after Queen Adelaide: Fort Adelaide. In 1836 another fort was built at Post Retief, northeast of the present Adelaide.
Adelaide was the daughter of the German George I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. Her full name was Adelaide Louise Theresa Caroline Amelia (1792-1849). She married the British Prince William, Duke of Clarence, and they lived in Hanover, Germany. When King George IV died in 1830, William bacame king, and his wife Queen Adelaide. The Australian city Adelaide is also named after her.
[Thanks to Johann H Claassen and Marlize Beukes for confirmation of town name].
Adelaide Louise Theresa Caroline Amelia (1792-1849).
Portrait by Sir William Beechey, around 1831.
There were no military clashes between the English speaking and Dutch speaking Europeans, but the latter regarded the English as invaders, and also were not happy with their English rulers. Many consequently moved away further northwards into Africa in order to get away from British rule. These pioneer groups were the first to move away, hence called Voortrekkers.
The explorer artist Thomas Baines (1820 – 1875) painted many scenes in the area.
Thomas Baines (1820 – 1875)
A scene of pioneers, by Thomas Baines.
The town received municipal status in 1896.
Famous people of Adelaide
Thomas Pringle, Sir Andries Stockenström, Pieter Retief, F.A. Venter and Iris Vaughan
Economy
Beef, mutton, wool, citrus
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