Burgersdorp is a delightful and picturesque town nestling between hills and valleys in the verge of the Stormberg Mountains. In 1835 Sir Benjamin D’Urban issued a proclamation declaring the former Burgersdorp region to be known as the ‘Province if Queen Adelaide’. An attempt to keep the farmers within the borders of the Cape Province failed and the proclamation was repealed. Sir Harry Smith renamed the region as Albert district. On 8 February 1846 the Dutch Reformed Church bought the farm, Klipfontein from Gert Buitendag. Burgersdorp now became a Church town and it remained like this until 1912 when it was bought by the municipality. Burgersdorop celebrated it’s 50^th anniversary in 1996. It is the oldest town in the northeastern Cape and the home of many cultural and historical treasures. Of the seven national monuments, the most famous is the first Language Monument, and the first Reformed Theological Seminary. The Seminary was later transferred to Potchefstroom, and was the origin of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. The district of Burgersdorp is regarded as one of the best mixed stock farming districts in the Karoo region. It is suited for sheep, cattle and dairy farming.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Aliwal North 58 km, Steynsburg 90 km, Molteno 66 km, Venterstad 63 km

Altitude: 1460 m above sea level

Average Rainfall: 400 mm – 500 mm per year

Average Temperatures

Summer 34°c; Winter -6°c

Banks

Absa, Fnb, Standard

Dams

Gariepdam, JL de Bruin

Mountains

Stormberg

Rivers

Orange

HISTORICAL VIEW

Afrikaans Language Monument

The Afrikaans Language Monument erected in 1893 was the first of it’s kind in South Africa. It was made in Italy at the cost of R860. The monument commemorates one of the milestones in the struggle to get the Afrikaans language officially recognized. The language struggle originated in the Albert district with Burgersdorp as main town under leadership of ‘Oom ‘ Daantjie van den Heever. As only English was recognized as official language in the Cape Colony’s Legislative Assembly the member for Albert was unable to address the Assembly as he could not speak English. The struggle continued for many years and on 9 June 1882 Dutch was accepted as second official language in parliament. In 1901, during the Anglo- Boer War this statue was damaged by the British troops and was removed from it’s base. The British Government agreed to pay all the costs of a replica of the monuments, which was unveiled in 1907. In March 1939 the original monument minus the head, was dug up in King William’s Town. Both monuments can be viewed on Burger Square.

Battlefield Site

The British were defeated by the Boers in the Battle of Stormberg near Burgersdorp in September 1899. Several relics from this battle can still be seen, including ruins of Boer forts and a British blockhouse.

Burger Monument

Erected in honour of burghers who died in the Battle of Stormberg during the Anglo-Boer War.

Burgersdorp Museum

The main building of the museum complex dates back to 1898, and houses displays of armoury. Clothing, a pioneer’s kitchen and a language room. The Technological, Xhosa and Voortrekker Rooms are located in the Coetzee House (1847) while the De Bruin House with it’s reed ceiling and dung floor, represents an example of Karoo architecture.

Buitendag House

The oldest house in Burgersdorp. Built in 1847 as residence for Hans Buitendag, son of Gert Buitendag on whose farm, Klipfontein, the town was proclaimed.

Christ Church

Built in 1861 and still serving as church for the English speaking community.

Dutch Reformed Church (1846)

The present building was completed in 1912

Jubilee Fountain

Ordered from Scotland and erected by the inhabitants of Burgersdorp in commemoration of diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. Originally only four of these fountains were manufactured and as far as it is known, this fountain is one of two to be found in South Africa.

Old Blue Gum Tree

Important events took place under this tree, see plaque on stump for history.

Old Gaol

Erected in 1861. Piet Klopper, who sided with the Boers against the British during the Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902), was executed in the old jail. He was the first of the Cape Colony ‘rebels’ to be executed.

Reformed Church (1860)

The first congregation of the Reformed in the Cape Province. Present building complexed in 1913.

Reformed Theological Seminary

Established in 1869

Sentinel Blockhouse (1901)

Erected by British soldiers during the Anglo Boer War

ATTRACTIONS

Kroonvlei

Enjoy a number of outdoor activities in the beautiful Stormberg, 40 km from town

Stormberg Abattoir

A new industry. Sheep and cattle are slaughtered, processed and delivered country wide per refrigerator truck

Stormberg Cheese Factory

Dairy farming is found especially in the Stormberg area where the cheese factory is situated. Stormberg Cheese is known country wide for it’s excellent quality products.

ACTIVITIES

Hiking

Two trails of 6 km and 15 km respectively. Takes visitors through the countryside to a number of San rock art and fossil sites. The 2 km historical trail takes visitors to the town’s various historical sites

Outdoors

Fishing, Motor Boating, Water Sports

Accommodation in and around Sabi Sand Reserve