Matjiesfontein is village on the fringe of the Great Karoo preserved for its Victorian charm. Matjiesfontein offers everything that a world-class destination does yet is incredibly unique in the hospitality industry. It is a place of magic, history and utter relaxation. The town of Matjiesfontein is located 27 km west of Laingsburg along the N1 national road.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO
The whole town is the thing to see, spend an afternoon wandering through the museums and historic buildings of the village.
1) The Old Post Office
The Matjiesfontein Gift Shop, once a post office and telegraph office which was used by war correspondents to communicate with the rest of the world. A selection of original and unique gifts, which includes Afrikaner books, collectibles and bygones.
2) Pink Church
The Pink Church was originally the school and concert hall of the town. It is now a sought-after wedding venue for its charm and historic feel.
3) Historic Cricket Pitch
The first official game was played in 1889. One of the first international matches between South Africa and England took place at Matjiesfontein and many famous English cricketers and teams have played this unforgiving Karoo pitch.
4) The Old Bank Building
The African Banking Corporation (predecessor to Standard Bank) opened chambers here in 1897. The original teller's counter and banking equipment are still on display.
5) British remount encampment
During the years of the British remount encampment the area in front of the railway station served as parade ground, where over 10,000 infantry and 20,000 horses were camped in the surrounding veld. The Lord Milner, with its central turret as lookout post, served as Cape Command Headquarters as well as a field hospital.
6) Traveller’s Chapel
A quaint little chapel on the banks of the Monument River was originally built to house gas-generating equipment, which was used to light the village. The building was converted into a chapel dedicated to George Rawdon. There is a quietly burbling fountain at its entrance. It is a unique and beautiful space for weddings, ceremonies and for quiet reflection.
7) Museums
The Transport Museum features a collection of vintage cars from the 1930 – 1960s. The collection includes two Royal Daimlers from King George VI’s 1947 tour of South Africa, which he undertook accompanied by Princesses Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret. There are also antique bicycles in all styles, an ex-London bus as well as a steam train and carriages, which you can explore.
The Marie Rawdon Museum with its vast collection of Victoriana, needs more than one visit. In Matjiesfontein’s train station, the contents of this double-storey museum were originally curated by avid collector, David Rawdon. It is a look into life of this colonial outpost at the turn of the century.
It is one of the biggest privately owned museums in South Africa.
Railway Museum, just outside you will find a station master's office dating back to the late 1800s as well as the original signal room.
8) Rietfontein Private Nature Reserve
Just outside Matjiesfontein is the Rietfontein Private Nature Reserve.
There are five self-Catering units with two bedrooms each. Activities include 4x4 routes, hiking trails, bird-watching.
+27 21 852 5667 / +27 82 557 3844
info@rietfonteinreserve.co.za
- The Transport museum hosts vintage cars from the 30s up to the 60s
- The Railway museum
- A Historic cricket pitch was where one of the first international games between SA and England was played in 1889
- The Pink Church
- Private Nature Reserve with adventure activities including 4x4 routes, hiking trails and bird-watching
The original inhabitants of the region were Khoekhoe herders and San hunter gatherers. Following the arrival of the early European colonists, the area was settled by Afrikaner Trekboers and Griqua people.
The town itself owes its existence to the railway line connecting Cape Town to the diamond fields of Kimberley. In 1898 the Prime Minister called for a map of Southern Africa and taking a ruler, drew his pen along it from Cape Town all the way inland. He then handed the map to the engineers, telling them to build the railway accordingly. A station was built in 1878 named Matjiesfontein. The name was derived from a type of sedge, Cyperus textilis, used by Khoekhoen to make mats (matjies) that they used to build huts.
A town was laid out in the 1880s, and formally purchased in 1968 to be preserved for its Victorian charm. The whole town was declared a National Monument in 1975.
