| karooinfo.com |
HOW TO GET THERE (GPS: 29 37S 24 05E) On the main N12 route, on the banks of the Orange River, 120km south of Kimberley. HISTORY Hopetown is on the edge of the Great Karoo, on the banks of the Orange River. The town symbol, a anchor and chain, is said to be a replica of a necklace worn by a widow van Niekerk as a symbol of hope. Hopetown came into being in 1850 when Sir Harry Smith extended the northern frontier of the Cape to the Orange river. A handful of settlers claimed ground and by 1854 a rough frontier town had mushroomed and a church had been built. By 1858 it became a municipality. It was a quiet farming town until 1858 when the first, and 1867 the second diamond was discovered. It started the South African Diamond rush. The end of the diamond era also saw the end of a prosperous time. Today Hopetown is again that quiet farming town on the banks of the Orange River. ORIGINS OF THE NAME One school of thought is that the name came from the ornament of a anchor, as symbol of hope. It is also accepted as having been named after Major William Hope, Auditor General of the Cape. POPULATION PLACES OF INTEREST Historic Buildings War Blockhouse Remains of wooden wagon bridge crossing the Orange River 'Convict Stone' (used to chain convicts to in absence of holding cells) WHAT TO DO AND SEE Rock Art sites on the farms Gelukspoort and Houtville (by appointmant) War relics including Blockhouse and Concentration Camp cemetary Walking Trails Birding River Rafting ACCOMMODATION TOURISM OFFICE NEIGHBOURING TOWNS Kimberley 120km Prieska 138km Strydenburg 55km |
