| karooinfo.com |
HOW TO GET THERE (GPS: 31 21S 20 55E) On the route between Calvinia and Victoria west. About halfway between Calvinia and Carnarvon. HISTORY On 10 July 1768, one Johan Abraham Nel of Stellenbosch rested near a fountain close to the Sak river during the birth of his son, planting an almond tree in honour of the event. This tree was eventually to become enormous, and was an oasis in the dry treeless area of the Karee Mountains. In 1845 Johann Heinrich Lutz of Switzerland established a mission station named Amandelboom (Almond tree) at this spot. Williston became a municipality in 1881. It covers an area of 13 264 km2 and became an official district in 1926. ORIGINS OF THE NAME First known as Amandelboom, after the mission station. In 1919 the name was changed to Williston, in honour of the Colonial Secretary, Colonel H Willis. POPULATION PLACES OF INTEREST Sandstone folk art route Singing hills Zakrivier wilderness route WHAT TO DO AND SEE Corbelled homes Williston Quiver tree wood Unique sandstone tombstones Riverine rabbits Birding ACCOMMODATION TOURISM OFFICE NEIGHBOURING TOWNS Fraserburg 93km Calvinia 129km Carnarvon 147km |
