Towns and suburbs

Greyton

First transition town

greyton

History of Greyton

  • Province: Western Cape
  • Overberg
  • Coordinates: 34°3′S 19°37′E
  • Area: 2.89 km2
  • Municipality:  Theewaterskloof

Greyton, established in 1854, lies in a lush valley once home to the Hassequas, a Khoikhoi tribe. The Hassequas lived along the Gobos River, named after their chief, and maintained large herds of cattle. Ensign Schriver from the Castle of Good Hope was sent in the 1600s to trade with Stoffel Koekson, the tribe’s leader. Koekson became wealthy from these transactions and relocated his people to Boschmanskloof, where some original mud-brick house foundations remain.

In 1793, Marthinus Theunissen received the Koekson lands as a loan farm.  Theunissen named the farm Weltevreden and built a homestead but soon left due to disputes with neighbours. Hendrik Cloete later used the farm for horse breeding and growing fruit and vegetables.

By 1707, Willem Adriaan van der Stel had granted large tracts of land as loan farms to settlers, excluding the Hassequas, who lost their land and suffered from a smallpox outbreak in 1713. The displaced tribe became labourers for Dutch farmers.

Herbert Vigne, a Londoner related to Sir George Grey, purchased Weltevreden and named it to honour his relative. In 1854, Vigne subdivided the farm into 120 plots, with the village layout designed by senior surveyor J.G. Rietz. The village design remains largely unchanged.

The plots were sold at affordable prices to buyers of all races and were equipped with water from lei water furrows that crossed the village. Homes were built close to the street to provide larger backyards for growing produce.

Greyton was unique in the Cape for offering full title deeds, grazing rights, and water rights to all buyers. Some descendants of the original buyers still reside in Greyton today. The town was officially declared a municipality in 1910 and became part of the Theewaterskloof Municipality in 2013.

The postal code in Greyton is 7233

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Things to see and do in Greyton:

  • One of the main attractions in Greyton is the Saturday Market at The Market Square. It is here where you meet the local people and the local artists of the village.
  • Christmas in July
  • Wine weekend: 028 254 9260
  •  Guided Walks with Marshall Rinquest:073 486 1965
  • The famous Bosmanskloof trail is from Greyton to McGregor, where you can  stay over and hike back the following day or you can arrange a lift back
  •  Open Gardens and Rose Fair: 083 252 1183    https://www.greytonrosefair.com/
  • The Art Walk event is in November/December when galleries and studios open from lunchtime on Friday to lunchtime on Sunday.
  • Join the  Riding Club for lessons or outrides through orchards, dams, streams, and into the mountains: Robynn 0836226274
  • Book an outride through the countryside: 0828727387.
  • Greyton Bike Hire 072 324 8676
  • Greyton Creative Arts Festival in August
  • The 10 fynbos walks are largely centred around the Gobos River valley, and get you out of the traffic and up into some splendid mountain country. They are well laid out and are marked with distinctive coloured footprints( contact Greyton Tourism)
  • Walk around the historical buildings. Get a map from Tourism 028 254 9414 or contact tour guide Michel Rouillard 0827079156
  • Take a tour of the nature reserve and learn about medicinal plants with Marshall Rinquest 0734861965
  • Greyton Mountain Bike Tours  083 4570679
  • Pie Run Gravel Grinder MTB event from Greyton to Riviersonderend and back
  • DIY mountain bike rides, and permits available from Vanilla Café
  • Dwarskloof pass
  • Greyton Conservation Society is a very active society run by volunteers who keep the Greyton Nature Reserve in pristine condition. They offer regular hikes and hiking parties. http://greytonconser​vationsociety.com/
  • The Greyton Genadendal Classics for All Festivals held annually on the first weekend of June
  • Other local happenings

Useful Numbers

  • Police: 028 251 8162
  • Traffic department: Caledon Traffic Department-028 212 2878
  • Fire:  028 425 1157
  • Water:
  • Electricity:
  • Ambulance: Caledon Ambulance Service-028 212 9111
  • Post office;028 251 8196
  • Library:028 254 9620
  • Closest hospital; Caledon Hospital-028 212 1072
  • Clinic -028 254 9620
  • De Oude Pastorie Clinic: 066 027 7752
  • Pharmacy;The Apothecary Pharmacy-023 254 9771
  • Residents Association: 072 835 8768    grroinfo@gmail.com
  • SPCA: Farm Animal Sanctuary-082 558 775  Animal Welfare
  • Snake removal: 082 922 5931
  • Tourism 028 254 9564 
  • Greyton bicycle hire: 083 304 9508  028 254 9409
  • Greyton Conservation: 076 528 8907
  • Trail running group: 028 254 9260
  • Schools:
  • Greyton House Independent School-028 254 9260
  • Greyton Primary School -028 254-9943
  • Uitkyk Primary School-028 254 9605
  • JJ Viljoen Primary School :028 254 9231
  • LR Schmidt Primary School: 028 251 8207
  • Emil Weder High School: 028 251 8119

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