Graaff-Reinet is home to more national monuments than any other town in South Africa.
Many private dwellings have been restored to their original form and Graaff-Reinet can boast
with over 200 homes proclaimed as national monuments.
The Graaff-Reinet colony was established in 1786 after farms belonging to Dirk Coetzee were purchased on which to establish the village.
It is the oldest town in the Eastern Cape Province
The town is named after Cornelis Jacob van de Graaf, former Dutch governor and his wife
Cornelia Reynet.
It was the fourth district to be proclaimed in South Africa
Hence it received a seat of local government. The property is now utilized for hotel accommodation. However the attempt to secure government authority turned out to be difficult since the self-assured citizens resisted any supervision.
Graaff-Reinet was even proclaimed an autonomous republic in 1795.
This endeavour failed due to the arrival of the English at the Cape that same year.
From the mid 1800's the town became known as a bustling trade center and it became a certain
stopover for travellers to the interior.
In the mid-nineteenth century it was one of the starting points for the exodus of the
Voortrekkers.
When the Boer War broke out at the end of the 19th century, the citizens of Graaff-Reinet
fought on the side of the Boers.
The town is also known for its irrigation furrows that were first laid out in the 1820's by
the Landdrost, Andries Stockenström.
Extensive vineyards existed at that time, and
Graaff-Reinet was well-known as a wine and brandy producing area. Here ostrich farming had a
vigorous start and the Camdeboo farming region became popular with the Cape Town butchers long before the town was actually established.
The broad streets of Graaff-Reinet are due to the fact that ox wagons needed enough space to
turn.
Graaff-Reinet has retained much of the character of a 19th century rural town.
With its painstakingly restored buildings, its monuments and historic associations, it's
virtually a living museum.
The town lies 759m above sea level.
Graaff-Reinet's climate varies extensively over the seasons. Summer: Hot weather with average temperatures of 31°C.
Winter: Cool but dry with average temperatures of 6,1°C.
Graaff-Reinet now has a population of over 44,000 people.
