Smithfield

Smithfield is named after Sir Harry Smith Governor of the Cape

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Smithfield (population 4'500) is a small town in the Free State province of South Africa at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains.

Photo: courtesy Lynden Lund

Smithfield is a farming centre on the highveld plains. The town is tucked into a horseshoe of hills, some 132Km southeast of Bloemfontein along the N6 national road to Port Elizabeth, and lies between Reddersburg, which is south of Bloemfontein, and north of Rouxville and Aliwal North. Wepener is north on the R701, and Bethulie south on the R701.

Photo: courtesy Lynden Lund

Other small settlements in the area are: Dupleston, Gomvlei, Breipaal, Helvetia, Koukraal, Uitsig and Gelukwaarts.

The Caledon River bounds Smithfield on the east and south. The district is drained by various tributaries of this river, the Vinkel and Wilgeboom Spruits being the largest. As the town lies 13 km west of the river, water has to be obtained from boreholes around the town dam.

Smithfield is the third oldest town in the Free State.

Photos: courtesy Lynden Lund

The Carmel and Beersheba missionary posts are experiencing some revival, with houses increasingly renovated.

The well-maintained local golf course dates back more than 100 years. Its facilities are open to guests, as are local tennis and bowls clubs.

Hills surrounding the town are considered well-suited to hiking, walking, horse-riding and birdwatching in relative isolation.

Local secondary roads are suitable for mountain biking.

Blesbok and some Zebra are to be found in the open savanna.

Photo: courtesy Lynden Lund

San rock art

San rock art can be seen in the hills surrounding Smithfield.

Caledon River museum

The Caledon River museum exhibits a display in memory of General Christiaan de Wet (1854-1922). There is a kitchen from the 1800s.

Ou Grietjie, a cannon used by the Free State in the Basuto wars, has been mounted in front of the magistrate's office. It was named after Margaret (Grietjie) Finlay, wife of the gunner Robert Finlay.

Christiaan de Wet house

The Boer General Christiaan de Wet (1854 - 1922) was born on the farm Leeukop in the Smithfield district, northward off the N6, near Helvetia. The house has been declared a National Monument.

Traacha Wool Washing Works

The ruins of the Traacha Wool Washing Works can be seen outside town. This works washed wool, and also serves as a wheat mill from 1874 to 1894.

Things to do

Star gazing, camera views, bird watching, place of history, place of war, bowls, tennis, golf, hikingtrail, mountainbiking.

Smithfield Dam

Smithfield Dam is just outside town.

Archaeology

In 1877 George Stow excavated a cave near Smithfield, and found tools from the Late Stone Age.

Gariep Dam nature Reserve

The Gariep Dam nature Reserve is southwest of Smithfield.

Tussen-die-Riviere Game Reserve

The Tussen-die-Riviere Game Reserve is southwest of Smithfield, on the way to the Gariep Dam.

History

Smithfield was first founded in 1848 as a church centre on the farm Waterval, owned by CS Halse. As there was no water, it was decided to move the town about 24Km northeast to its present position, on another farm, Rietpoort. It was founded when the then Cape Colony governor, Sir Harry Smith (1847-1852), required a settlement north of the Orange River.

Harry Smith (1847 - 1852)

Smithfield is the third oldest village in the Free State. It had a village board by 1860, but became a municpality only in 1948.

Smithfield features in some Boer-Basotho skirmishes. In 1855, a peace meeting was held between Sir George Grey and Moshesh of the Basotho people.

Klipplaatsdrif - 1839

Klipplaatsdrif is just off the the N6 south, on the way to Rouxville.

The Boer General Christiaan de Wet (1854 - 1922) was born on the farm Leeukop in the Smithfield district. The house has been declared a National Monument.

Economy

Smithfield has a small population of approximately 4'500. It is a prosperous wool-growing district, in addition to cattle farming. Originally an important wool-growing area, in recent times its position astride major tourist routes, has lent impetus to growing tourism.

Sheep dairy

There is a traditional sheep's milk cheese dairy in Smithfield.

Restaurants

Pigout Restaurant

Thanks to Brendan Pottier for some information.

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