Colesberg is a small town in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, home to fewer than 20 000 people.
Colesberg is situated in the Great Karoo in the Northern Cape on the N1 approximately halfway between Johannesburg and Cape Town at the foot of Coleskop. It is an ideal stopover for travelers from the north to the south of South Africa.
Colesberg is a traveler’s oasis on the main Cape Town to Johannesburg route.
Colesberg lies in typical Karoo veld and is surrounded by koppies (little hills). The town lies in typical Karoo veld and is surrounded by koppies (little hills). The most famous is Coleskop, which can be seen from a distance of over 40km. Early travellers called it “Towerberg” (“Magic Mountain”). Surrounded by koppies and flanked by the towering Coleskop, when the sun slips to the horizon, brushing the skies with brilliant hues, Coleskop’s former name, Toverberg (Magic Mountain), seems more appropriate.
The Karoo is known for endless plains and mountains, scorching hot summers and icy cold winters. The Karoo is famous for the largest variety of succulents to be found in the world. This harsh environment offers a wide variety of things to do and most activities are closely linked to nature.
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The area has seen waves of settlement over the past few millennia. First, the Stone Age folk roamed these hills, hunting the antelope that moved through the surrounding prairies. Then came the trekboers (nomadic farmer) who, with their livestock herds, were in constant search of new pastures. They were followed by the missionaries, who set up a number of stations and converted the local /Xam San to their congregation.
Colesberg is most famous for its racehorse breeding farms.
About 173 bird species inhabit the area. It also features a 10km stretch of the Seekoei River, one of the most important tributaries of the Orange River.
🌄 Discover Colesberg – Northern Cape’s Gateway to the Karoo | Clicknetsa
Historical Overview
The first people to inhabit the Colesberg district were stone-age hunter-gatherers. The first people to inhabit the Colesberg district were stone-age hunter-gatherers. They were followed in the early 19th century by ‘trekboere’, migrant farmers and missionaries.
In 1814, a mission station was built here in the hope of bringing peace to the volatile frontier area of the Cape Colony. By 1814, a mission station had been established in the hopes of bringing peace to what was an extremely unruly frontier area of the Cape Colony. Soon a second mission station, called Hepzibah, was established nearby and within short the two stations attracted over 1 700 /Xam San (Bushmen). Soon a second mission station, called Hepzibah, was established nearby and within short the two stations attracted over 1 700 Khoisan. This caused great alarm among frontier settlers who felt their security was threatened.
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By 1820 several huge farms had been established in the district and in 1822 the farmers petitioned for the establishment of a town. By 1820 several huge farms had been established in the district and in 1822 the farmers petitioned for the establishment of a town. In 1829, nervous farmers petitioned for a town to be established and 18 138ha was set aside. The first erven were sold in November 1830 and the town was named after Sir Lowry Cole, then Cape Governor.
The Village of Colesberg was founded in 1830 on the site of an abandoned station of the London Missionary Society, and was named in honour of Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, Governor of the Cape 1828-34.
The district of Colesberg was proclaimed on 8 February 1837. It became a municipality in 1840.
For many years it remained one of the most remote outposts of European settlement at the Cape and, as a result, became a major base for commercial hunters, explorers and settlers travelling into the Southern African interior.
The settlement was laid out about a central axis dominated by the Dutch Reformed church, and its dwellings were distinctive for their square, flat-roofed construction, a form of residential architecture which eventually became ubiquitous in the central, more arid regions of the Cape. The settlement was laid out about a central axis dominated by the Dutch Reformed church, and its dwellings were distinctive for their square, flat-roofed construction, a form of residential architecture which eventually became ubiquitous in the central, more arid regions of the Cape.
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Residents were served by the The Colesberg Advertiser, a bilingual weekly newspaper established locally in 1861.
The 1875 census indicated that Colesberg had a population of 1,312. In 1891 this number had risen to 1,841, and by 1904 it stood at 2,668, of whom 1,188 were literate.
The Transvaal Republic’s President, Paul Kruger, born in Cradock in 1825, is believed to have spent his formative years on the farm, Vaalbank, falling in what was, by 1830, the town of Colesberg.
Anglo-Boer War Era
Colesberg was one of the first districts in the Karoo to be invaded during the Anglo-Boer War.
The slow rhythms of Colesberg were disturbed at the turn of the 19th Century by the South African (Anglo-Boer) War.
On 14 November 1899 a Boer force of 700 men under the joint command of Chief Commandant ER Grobler and General HJ Schoeman entered Colesberg unopposed. Colesberg was captured 13 November 1899 under the leadership of General Hendrik Jacobus Schoeman (11 Jul 1840 - 26 May 1901) and Commandant Esias Reinier Grobler (3 Jan 1861 - 31 Aug 1937).
On 1 January 1900 British troops under Major-General John French attacked Boer forces in and around Colesberg. On 11 January they managed to drag a 15-pounder Armstrong Gun to the top of Coleskop, overlooking the Town, and on the next day they began shelling the Town.
On 14 February the British withdrew from their positions around Colesberg and regrouped at Arundel Siding. On 20 February the Boers began to retreat from Colesberg, and on 28 February British forces under Major-General RAP Clements marched into the town unopposed. The railway line to Colesberg Junction was reopened on 2 March 1900.
However Boer forces continued to control the Orange Free State banks of the Gariep and on 2 March 1900 they dynamited the Colesberg road bridge.
When British supporters heard the Boers had crossed the Orange River, they feared the worst. Many panicked, packed and fled. Some dug escape tunnels. The most famous is from the Methodist church to the “sloot”, a dry water course. Many tourists visit and photograph this.
Many Boer and British soldiers, who fought on this forgotten frontier, are buried in the military and town cemeteries. Visits to these graves are included in the historic walks organised by the Museum.
Those who are interested may also see the remains of forts and blockhouses on the outskirts of town.
During the Anglo-Boer War 1899 - 1902 16,000 Australians served with official contingents, and another 8,000 joined irregular South African units. The first Australian casualties were suffered near the town of Colesberg, at a desolate stopping place for trains, called Rensburg Siding.
The arrival of the Boers received a lot of local support, and a number of local burghers joined the commandos. On 14 November 1899 a committee of six local members were elected to assist the Boer commandos with provisions, and what ever else they needed. One of these members were Nicolaas Albertus Janse van Rensburg, who lived at Rietfontein, Arundel. General French used the tactic of giving the impression that his forces were much larger than they really were.
During the Anglo-Boer War the British wanted to take control of Naauwpoort. It was a strategic position, since the railway junction from Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein was situated here. A few miles north was Arundel. Ten miles north of Arundel was Rensburg Siding. Ten miles north of Rensburg Siding is the town Colesberg,see map.
During the Anglo-Boer War Australians and New Zealanders served here, and a number of them were killed in battles in this area. The British forces advanced under the command of General John DP French to Naauwpoort.
On 21 November French and his soldiers entered Arundel and found it empty. French then went to the farm Rietfontein, which belonged to Nicolaas Albertus Janse van Rensburg, and captured Nicolaas Albertus Janse van Rensburg at the water canal. He was given very little time to say good bye to his family. The British took him and left his wife and two daughters destitute. Van Rensburg had to ride with his horse, accompanied by four British soldiers on horses, one at the front and one at the rear, and one on each side. They rode south and once they reachedTweedale he was transported further by train.
The next day 30 December 1899, General French occupied the home of Cornelis Johannes (John) van Rensburg and Hester Cornelia du Plessis at Rensburg Siding, and used it as his headquarters.
As the Boers succesfully attacked the English on 12 February 1900, the English soldiers were forced to retreat back to Rensburg Siding.
Early on February 13th, General De la Rey attacked the headquarters at Rensburg Siding, while on the 14th February R.A.P. Clements withdrew to the nearby Arundel.
Nicolaas Albertus Janse van Rensburg spent the whole of 1900 in the police jail at Colesberg. Fortunately for him, he was allowed to receive visits from his wife and children. During March 1900 a number of other people got arrested and they were put in the same prison cell with him, Ds GA Scholtz and his son Dicke, Herman Sluiter (not the lawyer), Tobias de Villiers, P Badenhorst, Jacobus Pienaar, F Jooste Isak van Zyl, Arnoldus Meiring, Jacobus Norval, Charl Norval. In the cold winter months the freezing conditions made life very misearble in the cells. In the cell they hardly received any exercise and the food was meager.
On 5 December 1900 a special court was held in Colesberg (the presiding judge was Solomon). Seven days later, on the 12th December, Nicolaas Albertus Janse van Rensburg (already serving one year) was sentenced to serve three and half years in prison, and fined 500 pounds. On the 17 December he was told at 8am in the morning, to be ready to leave at 2pm that day. There was no time to greet his family. From the old Colesberg Station they were transported in open train trucks to the Junction. From there they were put in enclosed cattle trucks. At Naauwpoort they were placed on a passenger train to be taken to Cape Town. He arrived at Tokai prison on 22 December 1900, now one man amongst 628 other prisoners. Tokai was also a transit camp and some prisoners were sent to Bermuda or elsewhere.
At the end of the Anglo Boer War, signed at Vereeniging, 31 May 1902, John and Andries van Rensburg with many others were POW’s in Bermuda and India. Whereas Nicolaas Albertus Janse van Rensburg was still in the prison at Tokai.
Obviously this resulted in several skirmishes and today tours are conducted to these sites on request.
Your historical walk around Colesberg will include visits to the Colesberg-Kemper Museum, various churches, the stone Magistrates courthouse, various Karoo-style houses, some old shops in the main street and, possibly, lunch at a former horse mill which currently does duty as a bar and restaurant.
Visiting these battlefields promises a fascinating insight into these tragic times but also into the shaping of the country that South Africa is today.
Diamond Rush Connection
Colesberg has a rich history closely linked with to the legendary characters of South Africa’s diamond industry. Colesberg has a rich history closely linked with to the legendary characters of South Africa's diamond industry. John O'Reiley, who purchased the first diamond found in South Africa from its owner, Schalk van Niekerk, and took it to Colesberg for testing.
John O’Reiley, who purchased the first diamond found in South Africa from its owner, Schalk van Niekerk, took it to Colesberg for testing. It was used to scratch “DP”, the initials of Draper and Plewman, a store which still exists, on the shop’s window. Once the stone passed this test, it was sent to Dr Guybourne Atherstone, a well-known geologist.
He confirmed it was a diamond and so started The Diamond Rush.
Tourism and Attractions
Today, Colesberg is a traveller’s oasis on the main Cape Town-Johannesburg route, the N1, offering many attractive accommodation establishments.
For a peek into yesteryear with a liberal dose of contemporary culture, the Colesberg-Kemper Museum has grown over time, accumulating priceless keepsakes and memories. The museum is, as a result, very special for the locals, who recognise many of the exhibits from when they were still in use. These pieces represent the everyday way of life of generations past, telling the unique story of this little Northern Cape town.
Colesberg has several national monuments, one of which is the Colesberg-Kemper Museum. A fine example of 19th century Karoo architecture, it originally was the Colesberg Bank and later the Standard Bank. It now houses fascinating relics of the town's rich tapestry of history. This museum started in 1924 when G L Kemper donated his collection of artefacts to the municipality. It has grown into a valuable local cultural history museum. Colesberg has several national monuments, one of which is the Colesberg-Kemper Museum. A fine example of 19th century Karoo architecture, it originally was the Colesberg Bank and later the Standard Bank.
Exploring the koppies in the area is an archaeological delight. Exploring the koppies in the area is an archaeological delight. These reveal stone-age artefacts and other interesting fragments of the past.
Those who enjoy the Great Outdoors of the Great Karoo will also enjoy studying the fauna and flora of the veld around the town.
The local tourism office is happy to arrange walking tours through the town so that visitors can get the most out of the historical value and natural loveliness of Colesberg. It includes a tour of the cemetery, the churches, the original homes, the historical horse-driven mill pub, and meeting some of the town locals to experience the characteristic Karoo hospitality.
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