Heilbron

Heilbron (Blessed Source) is named after a fountain in the town.

Courtesy Quarta Pretorius

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Heilbron (population 55'000) is about 1.5 hrs drive from Johannesburg. Heilbron is on the R57 between Sasolburg and Petrus Steyn, the R34 between Frankfort and Edenville, on the R723 to Parys and Vredefort, the R725 to Lindley. Koppies is to the west of Lindley, and the Vaal Dam to the northeast.

The Renoster River flows west of the town passing Koppies and then northward into the Vaal River.

Heilbron is a popular weekend destination for tourists from the nearby Johannesburg areas. Game has been re-imported to the area, and there are many game farms.

There is a constant-flowing fountain in town which has never dried up since observed by the writing culture of Europens.

Riemland Museum

The Riemland Museum exhibits the Riemland heritage and the agricultural activities of the area. The museum is housed in an old Jewish Synagogue.

Architecture

Buildings dating from the 1800s can be seen in Heilbron.

Koppies Dam Nature Reserve

The Koppies Dam Nature Reserve is at Koppies, about 15Km from Heilbron.

Francolin Creek Conservancy

The Francolin Creek Conservancy is about 30Km east of Heilbron on the S240 to Frankfort. There is a natural wetland in the conservancy. Bird hunting is allowed.

Riemland Wine Route

There is a wine route of 60Km at Heilbron, called the Riemland Wine Route. Wines are "imported" from the Cape from three leading Boland cellars.

Ghoya Africa

There are corbelled huts constructed by the Nghoya people who lived in the area. They are extinct. The Ghoya Africa conservancy is 12Km south of Heilbron on the R34 to Edenville.

Corbel hut at Vechtkop
Photo: courtesy Quarta Pretorius

Things to do

Horse riding, 4x4 routes, hiking, mountain biking, game drives, horseriding, fishing, wind surfing, off-road cycling, fishing, game drives (both cars and quad bikes), historical tours and sport.

History

Most sources claim that Heilbron was named after the German city Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg. Heilbronn is on the Neckar River, which flows into the Rhine River at Mannheim, passing Heidelberg.

However, according to the Heilbron Feesalbum 1873 -- 1973 compiled by the reverend Daniël F Erasmus, during the time of the establishment of the town, a certain LJ Erasmus said: Kyk ons verwag heil uit die fontein en daarom moet die naam Heilbron wees (i.e. Look, we expect blessing from the fountain, and therefore the name must be Heilbron).
Info: courtesy Quarta Pretorius

The earliest people roaming the area was the San people. By the early 1800s the Rolong (Barelong) and Tswana peoples were living in the greater area.

In the 1820s, the Ndebele, a Zulu tribe under leadership of Chief Mzilikazi Khumalo, fled from Shaka and dominated the local tribes. When the Voortrekkers entered the area, Mzilikazi regarded them as trespassing, and attacked several parties.

He was also unhappy with the fact that the Voortrekkers were poaching his game. So his troops attacked the Erasmus party, which were wiped out, and the Liebenburg party, which apart from two girls and a boy who were sent to Mzilikazi as gifts, was also wiped out. The parties of Steyn and Botha withstood the attacks.

Battle of Vechtkop

The party of Potgieter consisted of 34 people and drew their wagons in a defensive circle, called a laager, at a hill east of the Renoster River. The hill was later named Vechtkop (or Battle Hill), which is about 15Km south of the present-day town.

On 16 October 1836 General Kalipi of Mzilikazi's army attacked the party. They were unable to overpower the Voortrekkers, lead by Hendrik Potgieter en Sarel Cilliers, but left with the Europeans' cattle. The Voortrekkers, with their superior weapons killed 430 Ndebele soldiers, while 2 Voortrekkers were killed. The Rolong people came to the asistance of the Voortrekkers, and they all left for Thaba Nchu, where they joined the party of Gert Maritz.

Photos: courtesy Quarta Pretorius

Game

In the early 1800s there was abundant game in the area. Even before the Voortrekkers came to settle in the area, hunters visited the area. It is reported that hunters came here for the kill, and exported game hides to Europe. Game poaching by the Voortrekkers was also one reason Mzilikazi attacked them.

After the European settlement of the area, as early as 1858 a law was passed to conserve game.

The location where the present town is found was settled in the late 1830s by the Voortrekkers, but the town was only proclaimed in 1872 or 1873.

Anglo-Boer War

During the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) the British established a concentration camp at Heilbron.

***

The town had a large Jewish community. Several streets are named after Jews. The Riemland Museum is hosted in an old Jewish synagogue.

Economy

Farming: Maize, wheat, sunflower, dairy products and stock feeds. There is a large manufacturer (Clover) of condensed milk, milk powder and whey powder.

Eco-tourism

Additional info: Quarta Pretorius

TOP