De Doorns is situated approximately 35 km east of Worcester on the N1 national route, one of the main transport corridors between Cape Town and the interior of South Africa. The town lies in the fertile Hex River Valley, surrounded by vineyards and high mountain ranges, including the Hex River Mountains.

The area forms part of the Cape Winelands District and serves nearby farming communities and settlements such as Avian Park, Stofland and the surrounding agricultural areas

History of De Doorns

The Origin of the Name

The name  originates from a farm called “De Doorns boven aan de Hex Rivier,” meaning “The thorns on the upper Hex River.” This name dates back to at least 1725. In 1819, the area was declared a sub-district (drosty) of Tulbagh, and by 1822, the farm had become the seat of the De Doorns drosty. The region, once a wilderness full of wild game, as evidenced by San Bushmen rock paintings, saw its first pioneer farmer, Janz van Hoeting, in the 1700s. He was given a licence to graze his cattle in the valley. He was soon joined by other stock farmers

By the end of that century, six farms had been established, each with a beautiful “Cape Dutch” homestead. Over time, these farms were divided into at least 150 smaller ones. The farm Clovelly is notably where the story of the Fair Ghost of the Hex River began.

The Arrival of the Railway

In 1875, the farm was purchased for the construction of a railway station by the Cape Government Railways. The railway line reached De Doorns by 1877, leading to the development of a small settlement around the station. This project, one of the most challenging in South Africa’s history, required the construction of two tunnels, extreme curves, and managing a steep gradient of 1:31.

Trains needed to reduce their length and weight at Touws River to handle the descent into Worcester. The station became a stop on the line from Cape Town to Touws River and then to Kimberley. In 1989, the line was reconstructed, shortening its length and adding more tunnels. The hamlet of De Doorns developed around the station, gaining a management board in 1933 and municipal status in 1951.

The Economy of De Doorns

The area around De Doorns became known for its table grape production, thriving due to the transport infrastructure. Grapes from this region are exported worldwide, making agriculture the backbone of the local economy. The rail link also played a crucial role during the Second Boer War (1889-1902), with stone blockhouses built to defend the railway line, some of which still stand today. De Doorns remains a key supplier of table grapes in South Africa. Water is supplied by the Lakenvlei dam on the Ceres side of the Hex River mountains, fed through a tunnel 14,7m long to a central distribution point in the valley.