THE TOWN'S HISTORY

Beaufort West is the birth town of Prof. Chris Barnard who performed the first heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital on December 3rd 1967.  He is honored in three historical buildings

(national monuments) which makes up the Beaufort West museum.

The Pastorie / Parsonage:

Prof. Barnard's boyhood home and visit the garden in which his ashes are buried.

The Old Town Hall:

The oldest Town Hall in the country. It houses the most popular exhibits of the first heart transplant operation, with much of the equipment used on that historic occasion.

The Old Mission Church:

This was the church in which Chris Barnard's father preached and his mother played the organ. Important firearms from the early days of South African history are on display here.
 

ESTABLISHING OF THE TOWN
In 1818 a town was established on the farm Hooyvlakte at the request of Lord Charles Somerset, then governor at the Cape. His aim was to establish and maintain law and order in the hinterland. He arranged for it to be named in honour of his father, the fifth Duke of Beaufort. Today, a typical "platteland" town with a rich, romantic history Beaufort West welcomes visitors who wish to study its fascinating ecology and its famous sons.


Today Beaufort West is a typical South African "platteland" or country town with a rich history. It lies in a sheltered spot, between two normally dry rivers, at the foot of the Nuweveld Mountains, so named because of the new grazing they offered.

 

The farmers who first settled in this arid zone were tough, able to contend with predators and regular raids on their stock. But they were also hospitable people who offered food and shelter to passing hunters, adventurers, explorers, missionaries and pedlars who brought welcome news from neighbours and the faraway Cape. Among the first farmers was a father and son, of Huguenot extraction and both widowed, who came to the area in 1760.

 

Abraham and Jacob Le Clercq (later called De Klerk) were granted a farm which they named Hooyvlakte, because tall, waving grass on the plains reminded them of wheat fields. They built a house, remarried and travelled frequently to the Cape to sell their produce. Soon they had cleared the area of predators and developed one of the prize farms of the hinterland. It caught the eye of magistrates sent to find a viable spot for a town.

PLACES OF INTEREST
The Karoo National Park

On the outskirts of Beaufort West lies the huge Karoo National Park which stretches far into the Nuweveld mountain range. Here two of South Africa's most highly endangered species, the riverine rabbit and the black rhinoceros, have been successfully resettled.

The park is also home to five tortoise species, the most in any conservation area in the world.

There are chalets for those who wish to linger a while. There's a pool, a restaurant, hiking routes, a Braille fossil trail, a nature walk and a popular 4 x 4-trail.
 

HISTORICAL
  • Museum Complex
  • Town Hall/Stadshuis
  • Mission Church
  • Mission Parsonage
  • Girls' Public School
  • Beaufort West Club
  • The Goal
  • Old Jacob's House
  • Cripple Care Centre
  • Eric Louw House
  • The Damkoppie Monument
  • Stone Fort
  • War Memorial
  • The Anglican Church
  • Voortrekker Park
  • The Pear Tree
  • Cemetery Wall
  • The Roman Catholic Church
  • Matoppo House
  • Coronation Villa
  • Clyde House
  • The Beaufort West Club

Surrounding Area
  • Matjiesfontein
  • The Hell
  • The Three Sisters
  • The Old Diamond Way
  • The Smugglers Route
The Beaufort West area is a popular eco-tourism stop, particularly in spring, autumn and winter. Many tourists come to holiday on one of the farms, to walk or hike in the mountains, to try out the challenging 4 x 4 routes or to hunt. Conservation in the area in dependant on hunting. It also brings several international visitors in to the region.

Those who have time to explore can visit some game farms or the 60 000 Karoo National Park, only 5km south of the town. Home to a huge variety of indigenous buck and birds it is also a sanctuary for the highly endangered black rhino and riverine rabbit. The Park has camping and caravan facilities, as well as a series of short walks and longer hikes. There is a challenging 4 x 4 route into the mountains as well.


Beaufort West as a base to explore and enjoy the magic that is the great Karoo.