VISIT
SWELLENDAM
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Heritage Buildings
In 1743 Swellendam was declared a magisterial district, the third oldest in South Africa. This outlying settlement soon became a gateway to the interior, and was visited by many famous explorers.
Because of this Swellendam is rich in Historic Buildings and Heritage Sites. Here are a few of the Historic Buildings in the vicinity of the Drostdy and the Swellendam Tourism office.
Drostdy
Built: 1746 - 1747
Info: The residence and courthouse of the landrost. This thatched Cape Dutch building was initially T-shaped and faced downhill, over its extensive gardens towards the .....
Old Gaol
Built: 1755
Info: The gaol was built shortly after the Drostdy and was originally a simple, long building with lean-to cells at the rear. By 1790 the gaol was enlarged and again in 1813.....
Zanddrift
Built: 1757
Info: It was a three-roomed cottage existed from about 1757 and that it was altered in about 1769. This building is now the Drostdy Restaurant .....
Mayville House
Built: 1847
Info: The ground on which Mayville is situated was originally part of the Drostdy property before it was sold to the Cape government in 1846......
Bukkenburg House
Built: 1880
Info: This late nineteenth century dwelling, with its predominantly Victorian features, is now owned by a local Potter....
Swellengrebel Street
Built: 1865
Info: This house is a Georgian double-storeyed building with handsome cornices and stepped parapet.
Schoone Oordt
Built: 1853
Info: This double-storeyed house was built in the Cape Georgian style & victorianised in the late-nineteenth century by the addition of a cast-iron verandah.
Old Boy's High School
Built: 1825
Info: This H-shaped house is situated was buildt by Jacobus Wessel van Dijk in 1825. He was a well-known wainwrights of Swellendam.
Buffeljags Sugar Bridge
Built: 1846
Info: It is said that molasses was used as binding agent for the Gypsum Bedding + Grouting of the Stonework Cladding - hence the nickname of “Sugar Bridge”.
Suurbraak Mission Church
Built: 1835
Info: Before Suurbraak was established as a mission station in 1809, it was occupied by the indigenous Attaqua people who called the settlement "Xairu".....
Letty's Bridge
Built: 1877
Info: Thomas Bain built a stone bridge over the Gats River when constructing Tradouw Pass. It was washed away in 1875 and replaced with a teak bridge....
Barrydale Church
Built: 1877
Info: Before the church was built, the dominee used to ride by horseback from Swellendam to deliver his services in a farm outhouse....
Malgas Church
Built: 1856
Info: The Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1856 and is still in use today. Reverend Keet became the teacher in Malagas in 1855 and it was under his guidance that....