| karooinfo.com |
HOW TO GET THERE (GPS: 31 04S 24 27E) On the main N1 route, halfway between Cape Town and Johannesburg. HISTORY The farm Petrusvallei had a number of owners until it was sold to the Dutch Reformed church in 1854. Soon a town was developed. Hanover became a municipality in 1885. It was a very busy town and many roads crossed here which also brought traffic. A railway line in 1884 was perhaps the first reason for traffic to dwindle, and the main N1 route that pass next to the town reduced the town to what it is today - a name on the travellers map. The history of the town include a number of interesting points, such as homes that extend to cover the sidewalk, irrigation from furrows dating back to 1870 and is still used according to the original distribution chart. A racecourse used until 1889 and the countries first Observatory (later moved to Sutherland). Graves and monuments of the Boer War can also be seen. Interesting past residents include the writer Olive Screiner and the first clergyman,(Rev) TF Burgers, later president of the Transvaal Republic. ORIGINS OF THE NAME A previous owner of the farm Petrusvallei, Gert Gous, requested that the town be named after the German city from where his parents originated. POPULATION PLACES OF INTEREST Museum Number of Historic Buildings War graves/monuments WHAT TO DO AND SEE War relics Walking Trails Birding Hunting Angora Handcraft Centre ACCOMMODATION TOURISM OFFICE NEIGHBOURING TOWNS Colesberg 74km De Aar 69km Noupoort 55km Richmond 61km 
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