Robertson, Western Cape
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Robertson, Western Cape
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 Robertson
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Robertson
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| Coordinates: 33°48′S 19°53′E / 33.8°S 19.883°ECoordinates: 33°48′S 19°53′E / 33.8°S 19.883°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | Cape Winelands |
| Municipality | Langeberg |
| Established | 1853[1] |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 10.82 km2 (4.18 sq mi) |
| Population (2001)[2] | |
| • Total | 18,341 |
| • Density | 1,695/km2 (4,390/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2001)[2] | |
| • Black African | 6.9% |
| • Coloured | 72.5% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.2% |
| • White | 20.4% |
| First languages (2001)[2] | |
| • Afrikaans | 92.5% |
| • Xhosa | 5.1% |
| • English | 1.9% |
| • Other | 0.5% |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 6705 |
| Website | http://www.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 worlds longest wine route - Route 62.[3][4]
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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 switched 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 South African National Monuments, 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 used as a storage for gunpowder).
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. Robertson wine cellars include
- Graham Beck
- Springfield
- Bon Cap
- Majors Hill
- Excelsior Estate
There are also a range of small boutique wineries as Rosendal and Fraai Uitzicht.
Skydive Robertson
Western Province Sport Parachute Club (WPSPC), founded in 1972, is the oldest remaining skydiving club in South Africa. In July 2008 the club relocated to Robertson.[5]
Western Province Sport Parachute Club (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 600meter asphalt runway situated 1km to the east of Robertson.
Gallery
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A view over Klaasvoogds from a Game Drive in the Nature Reserve
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The Rosendal Winery & Wellness Retreat in Klaasvoogds, Robertson
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The Rosendal Merlot 2004
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The Rosendal Special Cuvée 2004
References
- ^ "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)". pp. xlv-lii. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07212011-123414/unrestricted/05back.pdf.
- ^ a b c d "Main Place Robertson". Census 2001. http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/11007.
- ^ SA-Venues.co.za, retrieved 18th February 2012
- ^ SA-Route62.co.za, retrieved 18th February 2012
- ^ PASA Toggle Times Newsletter, Retrieved 19th Feb 2012
- ^ Robertson Tourism website, Retrieved 19th Feb 2012
External links
- Official Robertson Tourist information guide
- Cape Winelands Tourism your guide to Winelands accommodation, holiday and visitor information
- Rosendal Winery and Wellness Retreat in Robertson offers accommodation, restaurant, spa on a working wine cellar.
- Skydive Robertson
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