Graaff-Reinet

Name

Graaff-Reinet is named after Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff, Governor of the Cape, and his wife Hester Cornelia Reynet (Reinet).

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Graaff-Reinet lies in the Great Karoo and is surrounded by the Camdeboo National Park. This well-treed town lies on the banks of the Sundays River. Further to the north lies the Sneeuberge (Snow Mountains).

One of the largest vines in the world grows here. It was planted in 1870 and covers about 125 square meters.

Architecture

There are about 200 historical buildings in this small town, many of which are national monuments or protected buildings.

Drostdy - originally built in 1786, but replaced in 1804.

Dutch Reformed Church

The Dutch Reformed Church is built in the Neo-Gothic style.

Hester Rupert Art Museum

The museum is housed in the building of an old school.

Gunpowder magazine

The Gunpowder magazine ('Kruithuis') was built in 1853.

Old Jail

The jail was built in 1861.

Camdeboo National Park

The Camdeboo National Park surrounds the town.

De Hoop Dam

The De Hoop Dam is south of Graaff-Reinet.

Naudeberg Pass

Naudeberg Pass is north of Graaff-Reinet on the N9 to Middelburg.

Ouberg Pass

The Ouberg Pass is northwest of Graaff-Reinet on the R63 to Murraysburg.

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History

In the late 1600s the area was inhabited by the Inqua Tribe of the Khoi people. They were nomadic cattle farmers, and their leader, Chief Hykon, is claimed to have been the richest among the Khoikhoi tribes.

During the 1770s Dutch farmers began to settle in this area. There were skirmishes with the San (Bushmen) people. Under leadership of Koerikei they attacked the Dutch.

Later there were constant skirmishes with the Xhosa people who also began to move into this area.

This area is roughly 600Km from Cape Town, and thus very diifficult to be managed by the VOC administrators. This region then received its first local administrator in 1785. By 1786 the first official building was built on the farm of Dirk Coetzee. This first residency (drostdy) was replaced in 1804 by the building which is now the Drostdy Hotel. The town developed around the Drostdy.

Graaff-Reinet is the fourth oldest Western town in South Africa, after Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Swellendam. This is due to it being the seat of the 4th district proclaimed by the VOC Dutch East India Company.

Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff (?-1812) was married to Hester Cornelia Reynet. He was Governor of the Cape of Good Hope from 1784/1785 to 1791. The town was named after him, and his wife's maiden name. She was of noble origin. Spelling was not consistent in those days, and her surname was variously spelt as Raynet and Reynet, and more modernly as Reinet.

In 1795 the citizens of Graaff-Reinet, under leadership of Marthinus Prinsloo, proclaimed an autonomous republic, which did not last long as the British conquered the Cape of Good Hope and took over administration. Twenty of the "rebels" were found guilty by the British, several sentenced to death and the remainder banished. However, after Napoleon's war the Cape of Good Hope was given back to the Dutch, and the prisoners were released in March 1803.

Andries Stockenström (1792-1864) was Magistrate of Graaff-Reinet, and later lieutenant governor of British Kaffraria (1836 - 1838).

Andries Stockenström (1792-1864)

Climate

Today's Weather Report for Graaff-Reinet

Economy

Mohair, stud cattle and sheep.

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