History of Darling

• Province: Western Cape
• West Coast
• Coordinates:33°23′S 18°23′E
• Area:9.3 km2
• Municipality: Swartland

Darling, often called the flower of the West Coast, is a small country town known for its spring wildflower displays, creative spirit and historic character. Beyond the flowers, it offers cultural attractions, local food producers and a strong sense of community, all set within easy reach of Cape Town.

This town was founded in 1853 on the farm Langfontein in the Groenkloof area. It was named after Sir Charles Henry Darling, who came to the Cape as Lieutenant Governor in 1851.

In November 1901, Darling was the furthest that Boer forces penetrated South, and the closest to Cape Town any military action reached.

During the Second World War, there was German U-boat activity off the coast of South Africa. Sixteen ships had been sunk or damaged in our waters between January and June 1942; nineteen vessels carrying war materials were engaged by the enemy and met an unfortunate fate.  To help provide some security to Naval convoys, the South African Air Force constructed and expanded the facilities at airfields around the coast. The first SAAF flying unit to be based here was 23 Squadron, arriving on the airfield at the beginning of 1943. Such was the importance of their task that the unit was strengthened by the arrival of a Ventura detachment from 27 Squadron between February and April 1943. A 23-quadrant Ventura aircraft patrolled the sea approaches to Cape Town at the height of the submarine menace. A detachment of 27-squadron arrived a few months later. At the end of that year, the Venturas of 29 Operational Training Unit (OTU) were relocated from Nigel to Darling for torpedo training.

The Iron hangar was built in 1944. That same year, Ventura 6457 of 27 Squadron crashed into Dassenberg, killing the crew. The wreckage was discovered only in 1988 and taken to the SA Air Force museum.
After the war, the airfield was seldom used as operations moved to Langebaanweg.

Postcodes are: Street Code: 7345. Box Code: 7345. The licence plate prefix is CK

Browse businesses and places to visit in Darling

local WEATHER TODAY

Things to do and see in Darling

• The  Museum has displays showing the history of the town.
• It is also known for its wildflowers, and the Wildflower Society holds an annual wildflower show.
• Wildflower Society 084 916 6111
• Darling Stagger
• There is an operational wind farm.
• Evita se Perron was founded by Pieter-Dirk Uys in 1996 as a theatre complex in Darling’s original station building. It has grown into a major tourist attraction.
• Simply Darling village market at Evita se Perron, Saturdays 10.00 to 2.00
• The mystery tour. 24 Pastorie St, Solve the riddles and choose the right trail., 022 492 3361
• There are great birdwatching opportunities
• Swaartland Birding route
• Voorkamer Fest tasha@thedarlingtrust.org  072 573 7937 Theatre productions are performed in residents’ homes. (September)
• The Darling Cellars ‘crush’ day is in February or March 022 4922276
• A winter beer fest in July
• The Hildebrand monument  
• The Signal cannon, in front of the municipal offices. 
• Pop into Evita se Perron, a former train station turned theatre café by local legend Pieter-Dirk Uys.
• The Darling Art Collective
• The prestigious Darling ttu mountain bike race takes place in October, 022 451 2202
• The Darling Wildflower show in September
• Book a guided walking trail:  tours@westcoastway.co.za
• Rock the daisies in October
• Wheels of Time 2-day cycle challenge
• Walk-in, walk-out Farmers market on Thursdays from 16.00 to 17.30, Fontein Street

More information about things to see and do in Darling

Useful Numbers

• Police: 022 409 1300
• Municipality; Kerk St  022 492 2237
• Traffic department: Malmesbury 022 487 9400
• Fire: 022 4822996
• Municipality Malmesbury-022 487 9400 A/H 022 487 9479
• Water: 022 487 9400
• Electricity: 022 487 9400
• Ambulance: 082 222 6323
• Post office;022 492 2780
• Library:022 492 2237
• Closest hospital;  Clinic 022 492 2626
• Pharmacy; 022492 2782
• SPCA: Swartland022 492 2781
• ” Die Courant”: 022 487 3221
• Swartland Gazette: 022 482 3817
• Schools: Darling Primary – 022 492 2503
  Vooruitsig primary – 022 492 2678
• Museum; 022 492 3361
• Tourism; 022 492 3361

Close by are the other interesting small towns of: Mamre: Jakkalsfontein, Grotto Bay: Yzerfontein