Did you know that Swellendam is the third oldest town in RSA?
It is now a town with 28 072 inhabitants with over 50 National Monuments, most of them are buildings of Cape Dutch architecture. Early travellers and explorers who visited the Cape in the 16th century traded with the Khoikhoi people who lived on these shores and in the interior. when the Dutch East India Company established a replenishment station at the Cape in 1652, trade continued inland as far as Swellendam (which was declared a magisterial district almost 100 years later, in 1743, becoming the third oldest in South Africa).
Swellendam was named after Govenor Hendrik Swellengrebel - the first South African born Govenor - and his wife Helena Ten Damme.
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| Lady Anne Barnard |
Many Famous travellers visited this small town; including Francois Le Valliant, Lady Anne Barnard, William John Burchell, and Thomas Bowler.
In time, a village was established beyond the Drostdy, where artisans including numerous wainwrights and traders settled. To travellers and explorers, the services of the village folk were indispensible, as Swellendam was the last outposr of civilisation on the eastern frontier...
Make your way down to stay with us here at Augusta de Mist, and see the old monuments for yourselves.
Soak up the history that surrounds us everyday, and have a story to share!
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