Aliwal North

Aliwal North in the Free State offers tourists 2 hot mineral

Aliwal North came by its unusual name by a convoluted route. Sir Harry Smith (Governor of the Cape) named it Aliwal to commemorate the famous battle in which he defeated the Sikhs of India in 1846.

Aliwal North lies on a strategic ford on the Orange River which was used by the Bushmen and the Voortrekkers. This was upgraded with a pontoon in 1872. The town developed simultaneously as a health resort and transport centre with the railway from East London reaching the town in 1885. This prompted rapid development at Aliwal North as a commercial centre for the north-eastern region of the British colony.

Aliwal North is the centre of a prosperous farming community whose main products are wool, maize, wheat, beef and dairy. The towns principle assets are two popular hot mineral springs, which have extremely high concentrates of minerals and gases. The concentrate of gas is so high that the first restaurant built here was able to maintain its cooking fire from gas funnelled from the springs.

Attractions at Aliwal North

• Aliwal North Museum
  Comprises two buildings: the old Dutch Reformed Church dating to 1864, and the library building in Smith Street dating to 1876.
• Buffelspruit Nature Reserve
  A large reserve offering breathtaking scenery and thousands of antelope, the most common of which are kept here as breeding stock. Buffalo are plentiful on the reserves sweeping grassland.
• De Leon Park
  The towns stately park in its main square, named after Juana Maria de los Dolores de Leon, wife of Sir Harry Smith.
• Garden of Remembrance
  A memorial to those who died in the Anglo-Boer War concentration camp in the town during that war. The area including a British blockhouse.
• Historical Places & Buildings
  Aliwal North is widely known for its examples of well-preserved old buildings and historical places.
• Kerkplein Museum
  A component of the Aliwal North Museum Complex, covering local history, with exhibits and colletion featuring many different themes.
• San Rock Artwork
  The many surrounding caves and rock shelters are troves of this fascinating Stone Age artwork.

Situated on the banks of the Orange River, which forms the border between the Free State and the Eastern Cape, the town was established in 1849 at a strategic ford in the Orange River. The town lies at the centre of a rich sheep farming area. Hot springs, with reputedly therapeutic powers, are the main attraction.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Burgersdorp 50 km, Lady Grey 54 km, Queenstown 170 km, Lady Grey 54 km, Port Elizabeth 508 km

Banks

Absa (ATM), African Bank, Fnb (ATM), Standard (ATM)

Dams

Gariep (Hendrik Verwoerd)

Mountains

Stormberg, Witteberg (Drakensberg)

Rivers

Kraai, Orange

HISTORICAL VIEW

Aliwal North Museum

Comprises two buildings, namely the Library (1876) and the Old Dutch Reformed Church (1864). Exhibits include a fascinating soap collection and items from the Anglo Boer War.

Anchor and Chains

Along the short and shady walk from Barkly Street to the Municipal Offices, lengths of chain and two anchors are found. These anchors and chains were part of the pont operated across the Orange River up to 1880 when the Frere Bridge was built. The chains were presented to the town by CRA Frankelin in 1934. The Frere Bridge was replaced by the present day bridge in 1938.

Anglo Boer War Sites

Two British concentration camps were set up in Aliwal North during the Anglo Boer War (1899 – 1902). When the local council complained to the government that they could no longer afford to feed refugees flocking in from the Free State (both black and white), the British took over, and in line with Lord Kitcheners’ scorched earth policy’ for the Free State, the refugee camp at the confluence of the Kraai and Orange rivers was turned into a concentration camp. Eventually through over crowding a new camp was established and the black refugees moved 9,5 km down the river to the site of what is today known as Dukathole Township.

Block House

Graves of the British soldiers killed in the area during the Anglo Boer War can be seen at the entrance to the Buffelsfontein Game Reserve, next to a block house dating from the same war.

Buffelsvlei – De Wet House and Graveyard

House and graveyard of the pioneering De Wet family on whose farm Buffelsvlei the town was developed. Pieter Jacobus de Wet settled here in 1828 and built the first house soon afterwards. The present building was erected in 1898 by the youngest son David and placed in a family trust in 1870. The old family graveyard lies on the ridge above. In 1928 the De Wet family raised a monument in memory of their ancestors. The monument can be seen next to the house overlooking Levy Street.

Central Park Square

Bordered by Durban and Smith Streets the Central Park Square has some magnificent trees. It also has a fairly unique Victorian boundary fence. Originally the main focus of the town. Many of the structures around the park were once the manor houses of the town.

Concentration Camp Garden of Remembrance

The Garden of Remembrance was unveiled on 12^th September 1981. The memorial was erected by the War Graves Board as a tribute to the 720 woman and children who died in the concentration camp and surroundings during the Anglo Boer War

Dutch Reformed Church

This is the third NG Church building erected in Aliwal North since 1852. The corner stone was laid in 1924 by DS W Naude. A marble stone was erected in the church by the Naude family in remembrance of their father. The pulpit was donated by the descendants of Gideon Joubert, one of the first settlers in the area. The first thatched roof building was located in Church Street where the Monumental Mason’s factory is today. The second church erected now houses the Church Museum in Barkly Street

Juana Garden

The Juana Garden were named after the beautiful wife of Sir Harry Smith, governor of the Cape Colony at the time of the town’s establishment.

Old Magistrates Court

Historical building

Old Power Station

The power Station was built in 1938 and has been in service for over 40 years. It used to supply electricity to Burgersdorp, Smithfield, Rouxville and Zastron. The building situated at the back was built by English soldiers in 1901 as a stable for their horses. The original door and shooting holes can still be seen.

Old Stream Engine

In front of the old station buildings. Resembling a typical station of the Victorian period, the original station buildings have been turned into a commercial centre but still recall a bygone age of steam.

Old Toll Bridge

The remains of the old toll bridge over the Orange River can still be seen next to the newer Hertzog Bridge. Called the Frere Bridge, one can still make out the engraved charge rates for a wagon to cross. Further up, towards the town itself, the toll house can still be seen. It currently houses a small shop. The old toll bridge over the Kraai River can still be seen approximately 10 km out on the tar road to Lady Grey. Declared a National Monument this well built sandstone structure can only be reached by crossing the modern bridge and turning off to the right immediately afterwards to return on the lower old bridge. This road leads to the toll buildings which have been revamped and incorporated into an accommodation establishment.

Oranje Hall

The present Orange Hall was built as the hall for the International Order of Templars. The foundation stone bears the following inscription “The stone was laid on October 10^th, 1906 by his Excellency the Hon. Sir Walter Hely Hutchinson”.

Post Office

The original post office built out of dressed sandstone blocks.

Residence of a British Doctor

The residence of the British doctor who tended the internees in the concentration camps. Located in Levy Street, on the left at the junction with Durban Street.

San Rock Art

Can be found in the area around Aliwal North

Scottish Home

Built by imported Scottish masons to a Sir Herbert Baker, design, this sandstone house still has most of it’s original furniture and is owned by the original family. Now an accommodation establishment. Two kilometers from the centre of town.

‘Sister of the White Lady’

A gallery of Bushman paintings, featuring a white human figure in the foreground, has been declared a national monument. The figure resembles the famous ‘White Lady’ of the Brandberg in Namibia.

The Hoexter House

Old building

Victorian Architecture

There is a prime example of Victorian architecture at the intersection of Somerset and Grey Street. The metal filigree or lacework is original.

War Memorial

The monument, erected in 1924, is unique in that it bears that names of all those from the district who served and died during the World Wars of 1914 – 1918 and 1939 – 1945. the monument was moved in 1970 from the top of Somerset Street to the Public Library Grounds.

Water Furrough

The water furrough, built of sandstone, took water from the springs to the town. Erven had special turns for watering fruit and vegetable gardens.

NATURE

Buffelsbron Game Reserve

Very close to town boast a number of different species of game. Zebras, eland, gemsbok, bontebok, springbok, ostrich, buffalo to name but some, as well as interesting ornithological (bird) species which vary depending on the time of year.

Gariep Dam

Aliwal North lies approximately 120 km east of this dam. It is the largest dam in South Africa.

ATTRACTIONS

Aliwal Spa

With it’s hot mineral springs, credited with curative properties for rheunmatism and arthritis, the Spa is a popular holiday destination.

Catholic Church

A magnificent twin towered sandstone church

ACTIVITIES

Canoeing

Orange River

Fishing, Hiking Trails, Hunting

Buffelsbron Nature Reserve

Mountain Biking / Cycling

Rhodes Mountain Bike Championships nearby

Accommodation in and around Aliwal North