Kirkwood

Municipality

Municipality: Sundays River Valley Local Municipality
District Municipality: Cacadu District Municipality

Kirkwood Tourism Bureau

Kirkwood

Phone number: 041-585-7761
Fax number: 041-585-4975

Kirkwood is named after James Somers Kirkwood, landowner in the area. The town was established on one of his farms - Gouwernements Belooning. Sundays River Valley in 1877.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Kirkwood is located in the Sundays River Valley (a sub-tropical region), on the banks of the Sundays River amidst farmland, and on the southern border of the Addo National Park. The Sundays River is the fastest flowing river in South Africa, with green river banks amidst the arid area of the Great Karoo through which it runs. The Khoisan name for the river is Nukakamma (grassy water).

Kirkwood lies south of the Zuurberg Mountains, which are located in the Addo National Park. It lies south of the Rietberg peak.

Kirkwood is known for its beautiful roses. In October the citrus trees flower, and the air heavy with their blossoms.

Sport

Golf (9 holes), polo, tennis, cricket, squash, horse riding, 4x4 trails, micro light flights, ballooning, absailing, hiking.

On the Sundays River: fishing, boating, river rafting, canoeing.

Events

Addo Rose Festival: held in October

Citrus Carnival

Addo Polo Tournament

Kirkwood Wildlife Festival

Darlington Lake

Darlington lake is situated about 50Km to the west of Kirkwood in the Addo National Park region. The lake is surrounded by thorny Karoo vegetation.

History

The dates when this area was invaded by the African Nguni tribes from the northern parts are still contested, but before them the San (Bushmen) were active in the area. Before Europeans settled here, there were many skirmishes between the San and Xhosa tribes who invaded San territory. In the early 1800s Europeans settled in the area, and now the San and Xhosa together resisted these invaders. After these so-called Border Wars, European military leades were given land in the Sunday River Valley by Sir John Francis Cradock, Governor of the Cape Colony, for their role in the European victories 1811-1812 against the Xhosa tribe.

Kirkwood was established on one of these farms, namely that JS van Niekerk, Gouwernements Belooning (Government's Reward). This farm was on auction in 1877. The auctioneer, James Somers Kirkwood, bought this farm and several others, and founded the Sundays River Land and Irrigation Company. He wanted to begin large-scale irrigation farming. Unfortunately his timing was wrong when he looked for investors, as the diamond rush to Kimberley just happened then. Kirkwood went bankrupt, and died poor in 1889. His dream was eventually realised when the Sundays River Irrigation Project was built.

Kirkwood was founded on the farm Gouwernements Belooning in 1912 or 1913 and became a municipality in 1950.

Climate

The Kirkwood area is sub-tropical.

Temperature

Summer - November to April
Average maximum: 21-25°C
Average minimum:

Winter - May to October
Average maximum: 26-30°C
Average minimum: 11-17°C

The highest temperature ever recorded in South Africa was in 1928, when it reached 50.3 °C (122.5 °F).

Rainfall

Close to 400mm per annum.

Economy

Fruit, mainly citrus.

Kirkwood is one of the largest citrus-growing regions in South Africa. About 30,000 acres are planted with citrus orchards. This area annually produces about 10 million cartons of citrus - oranges, lemons, grapefruit.

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