Search the Business Directory

Home arrow Town Guides & Info arrow Caledon - History in Photos
Advertisement

Caledon - History in Photos PDF Print E-mail

ImageThe early Khoi-Khoi people discovered the springs long before Europeans came to the Cape. Only after Europeans settled in the Cape, the Caledon springs became increasingly famous. Actual development started in 1710 when Ferdinand Appel secured a grant of 10 ha in the area on condition that he erects a building for the use of visitors to the curative waters. However, the Bot River, a days journey by wagon from the springs, is indicated on a map dated 1662 and it is thus likely that the mineral waters were visited well before the 18th century.

 

Click to open image!
Click to open image!
 

The hot springs at Caledon became popular and was developed as the years passed.  Seven springs of chalybeate (iron rich) water originally bubbled to the surface, one of which was cold and the other six thermal. The water, in contact with rocks heated by pressure deep under the ground, is warmed to a steady temperature of approximately 50°C, with just less than 1 000 000 liters reaching the surface each day.  Just like other natural springs in South Africa, the thermal springs of Caledon are not related to volcanic activity. The principal feature of the water, besides its warmth, is that it's free of any organic matter and contains a large amount of iron. Samples of Caledon's mineral spring water were submitted in 1893 to the greatest exhibition of the time, the Chicago World Fair. The water was awarded first prize as one of the world's top quality mineral waters.

A full century elapsed before the farming community increased sufficiently to warrant the establishment of a drostdy and a church in the area. The government's decision to create a sub-drostdy at Caledon was taken in March 1810 and five months later, four local farmers, Wessel Wessels, Philipus de Bruyn, Johannes Marais and Hans Swart requested permission to build a church with the aid of government.  In April 1811 Caledon received its first deputy landdrost (magistrate, subordinate to Swellendam) and in 1813 the first Dutch Reformed church was consecrated.  Besides provision for the officials and the minister, seventeen plots were surveyed, fifteen along the Ou Wagen Weg (Mill Street) and two in Church Street.

 

Click to open image!
Click to open image!
Click to open image!
Click to open image!
 

Caledon developed slowly in the early years as it served a poor farming community, and water in the village was scarce.  The only sources were the hot springs and the Drinkwaterskloof in the Swartberg and both were limited.  By the 1840’s the conversion to the wool producing Merino sheep was causing a silent revolution in the district. From having been a very poor grain producing area, the Overberg became one of the most prosperous farming districts in the Colony and the growing wool exports were reflected in the remarkable growth in the village of Caledon.  Between 1840 and 1860 Caledon doubled in size, with the numbers of households increasing from 39 to 81.  In 1870 a correspondent claimed that Caledon had 5 schools, 3 doctors, 1 bank, a brass band, 6 hotels, 13 shopkeepers, 5 bakers, 5 butchers, 6 tailors, 3 saddle makers, 3 hairdressers, 12 photographers, 4 canteens, 2 bottle stores, 6 carriers and 2 undertakers. 

Click to open image!
Click to open image!
Click to open image!
Click to open image!
Click to open image!
Click to open image!

Caledon is situated in the prime spot for barley production. Barley is one of the world’s leading grain crops and is grown since biblical times. Barley’s popularity is due in part to its ability to flourish in diverse climates ranging from the Arctic Circle to the tropics. A large percentage of the barley grown in the Overberg region is used for brewing malt beverages such as beer. Southern Associated Maltsters is situated in Caledon and is the largest malt-producing plant in the Southern Hemisphere creating job opportunity for the locals. 

 
< Prev   Next >

Newsflash

Keep ahead of the times with the Overberg Calendar. Submit your upcoming event for free by emailing This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it with the details of your event.
 

New Business Listings

Mirre & Kaneel...
https:/...
Category: Alternative
Created: Jun 2, 2023
Benguela Cove Lagoon...
Category: Hermanus
Created: Feb 14, 2023
SunAway Shade
Category: Businesses
Created: Feb 14, 2023
Swellendam Local...
Category: Swellendam
Created: Feb 14, 2023
Stanford Tourism
Category: Stanford
Created: Feb 14, 2023
Poplar House
Category: Self Catering
Created: Dec 13, 2021
J. Paulsen Attorney
Category: Gansbaai
Created: Jun 7, 2021
Hermanus Physio
https:/...
Category: Hermanus
Created: Dec 23, 2019
Saps Swellendam
Category: Swellendam
Created: Sep 4, 2019
Simon's Rooikrans Wood
Category: Hermanus
Created: Aug 16, 2019
Show more...

Polls

What would you like to see on the site?