Robertson, Western Cape

Robertson

Robertson in 1987
Robertson
Robertson
Robertson

 Robertson shown within Western Cape

Coordinates: 33°48′S 19°53′E / 33.800°S 19.883°E / -33.800; 19.883Coordinates: 33°48′S 19°53′E / 33.800°S 19.883°E / -33.800; 19.883
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
District Cape Winelands
Municipality Langeberg
Established 1853[1]
Area[2]
 • Total 23.5 km2 (9.1 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 27,715
 • Density 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
 • Black African 23.2%
 • Coloured 60.8%
 • Indian/Asian 0.3%
 • White 14.7%
 • Other 1.0%
First languages (2011)[2]
 • Afrikaans 75.1%
 • Xhosa 15.6%
 • English 3.2%
 • Sotho 2.2%
 • Other 3.9%
Postal code (street) 6705
PO box 6705
Area code 023
Website robertsonr62.com

Robertson is a town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa known as the valley of wine and roses, at the heart of the wine route - Route 62.[3][4]

History

The town was founded in 1853 and named after the Scottish Dutch Reformed Church Minister, Dr William Robertson.

Situated in the fertile Robertson Valley, farming and wagon building were the town's original industries. However, after the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899, the wagon building industry collapsed when the railways took over the transport of all goods.

Robertson subsequently became famous for its ostrich farming, but this industry collapsed as well shortly after World War I and thus the farmers of the area turned to wine and fruit farming. Later, several successful racehorse stud farms were founded. Agriculture remains the mainstay of the town's economy up to the present day.

Tourism

Tourism has grown in recent years and the town has several Western Cape provincial heritage sites, such as the Pink Church (1859), the Museum (1860), the Edwardian-style house 12 Piet Retief Street (1904), the Victorian-style house 59 Van Reeneen Street (1914) and the Powder House (which was used as a store for gunpowder).

Hiking Trail

The Arangieskop trail is a circular route, starts and ends at Dassieshoek nature reserve. The first day of 11 km climbs to the top of Arangieskop (1620 m) where there is also an overnight hut. The second day of 9.5 km returns via a different route.

Wine Industry

The wine industry in Robertson has grown from less than 25 cellars in 1995 to more than 50 registered wine cellars as of today. There are a number of wine cellars that receive the highest awards both locally and internationally every year. Some of the best Robertson wine cellars include:

Skydiving at Robertson

Western Province Sport Parachute Club (WPSPC) - Skydive Robertson, founded in 1972, is the oldest remaining skydiving club in South Africa. In July 2008 the club relocated to Robertson.[5]

WPSPC operates from the Robertson Airfield on weekends and public holidays and facilitates tandem skydiving and student training, and provides a facility for sports skydivers.

The 2011 South African National Skydiving Championships was hosted by Skydive Robertson and held at Robertson Airfield. This is the first time the national skydiving championships has been held in the Western Cape.[6]

Robertson Airfield

Robertson Airfield is an unmanned airfield, with a 1 600 meter asphalt runway, situated 1 km to the east of Robertson.

References

  1. ↑ "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)" (PDF). pp. xlv–lii.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sum of the Main Places Robertson and Nkqubela from Census 2011.
  3. ↑ SA-Venues.co.za, retrieved 18 February 2012
  4. ↑ SA-Route62.co.za, retrieved 18 February 2012
  5. ↑ PASA Toggle Times Newsletter, Retrieved 19 February 2012
  6. ↑ Robertson Tourism website, Retrieved 19 February 2012
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