Towns and suburbs

Graafwater

graafwater

History of Graafwater

  • Province: Western Cape
  • West Coast
  • Coordinates:32°9′S 18°36′E
  • Area:1.88 km2
  • Municipality: Cederberg

Graafwater means digging for water in Afrikaans. The town of was established when the railway junction was built between Bitterfontein and Cape Town in 1910. The railway was used to transport seafood from Lamberts Bay and agricultural produce from Clanwilliam to Cape Town.

The station today

Graafwater lies between Clanwilliam and Lamberts Bay. There is a cave about 25 km away from the town. The Dutch called it Herenlogemen ( gentlemen’s lodging) The initials of travellers who used the cave as shelter in the 1700s are carved on the cave walls.
The story of the shelter was documented by Cape Governor Hendrik Swellengrebel who travelled here in 1737. He wrote about a wild fig tree that grew out of a cleft at the back of the cave which can be seen to this day. The Herenlogement has been declared as a national monument.

The postal code in Graafwater is 8120

WEATHER IN GRAAFWATER TODAY

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Things to see and do in Graafwater

  • Herenlogement: overhanging rock used as an overnight place by early settlers.
  • Zink blockhouse built during the Anglo-Boer war, 1902 – Tel 022 422 1108
  • Rock Art and Rock Formations – Tel 027 482 2022
  • Oloff Bergh Stone & Fountain – On the farm Klipfontein – Tel 022 422 1723

Useful Numbers

  • Police: 027 422 1122
  • Traffic department:
  • Fire: 027482 1775
  • Water: 082 883 6826
  • Electricity:907 9494082
  • Ambulance:10177
  • Post office; post agency 027422 1222
  • Library: 027422 1108
  • Closest hospital; clinic 027 422 1309
  • Pharmacy;
  • SPCA:
  • Schools:
  • Graafwater high 027 422 1009
  • Graafwater primary 027 422 1215
  • Maasrust Sskv primary 027 422 1277
  • Museum;022 422 1108

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