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More information and photographs for this page will be posted shortly HOW TO GET THERE (GPS: 30 35S 25 30E) Situated on the N12 between Victoria West and Kimberley. HISTORY Hans Brits settled on a farm Gemsbokfontein, which is where Britstown now stands. Soon after the discovery of diamonds at Hopetown and Kimberley, Brits realised that he and his neighbours could earn good money serving the growing traffic along the Diamond Way. So Brits arranged for a town to be laid out on a portion of his farm. The thinking was to establish a point between Victoria West and Kimberley that could provide travellers on the Diamond Way with accommodation and refreshment as well as fresh horses and fodder In 1877, a group of men purchased a section of Hans Brits's farm to establish a community centre with a church The first inhabitants of this area were Bushmen, who at places where they sought shelter and rest from their wanderings, left an artistic wealth of rock engravings. There is a large number of rock art, in particular on the farms Brakwater, Keurfontein, Maritzdam and Omdraaivlei Britstown saw the movement of large numbers of troops during the Boer War but very little action. ORIGINS OF THE NAME Named after Hans Brits the original owner of the farm. POPULATION PLACES OF INTEREST Rock Paintings Smartt Syndicate Dam Britstown Museum (Raath Street) Transport Museum (Richmond Street) WHAT TO DO AND SEE Farm Holidays Hunting Walking Trails 4x4 routes ACCOMMODATION TOURISM OFFICE NEIGHBOURING TOWNS Strydenburg 77km De Aar 52km Victoria West 111km Vosburg 81km Prieska 123km |
