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More information and photographs for this page will be posted shortly HOW TO GET THERE (GPS: 30 57S 22 08E) From Cape Town, follow the N1 northwards past Beaufort West. At Three Sisters, turn towards Victoria West, from where the road to Carnarvon is clearly signposted. HISTORY Renish missionaries started work among the local Khoikhoi tribes and the first mission station was established on the farm Schietfontein. Another station called Harmsfontein was founded further east. This gradually developed into a village that was laid out in 1860. Carnarvon became a municipality in 1882. Its position, south of the Karee Mountains was on one of the routes followed by the early explorers and traders. Today it is a busy farming centre and an important merino sheep farming district. ORIGINS OF THE NAME It was first known as Harmsfontein and also Schietfontein. In 1874 it was named after the then British Colonial Secretary, the Earl of Carnarvon (1831-1890). POPULATION PLACES OF INTEREST Museum Number of Historic Buildings Corbelled houses Several Rock Art sites Oukraal - Arts & Crafts Fort dating from Boer War WHAT TO DO AND SEE Carnavon Nature Reserve Tortoise Reserve Hiking Hunting 4x4 Routes ACCOMMODATION TOURISM OFFICE NEIGHBOURING TOWNS Williston 147km Van Wyksvlei 82km Vosburg 86km Loxton 63km Victoria West 144km |
