History of Malmesbury

Province: Western Cape
West coast
Coordinates: 33°27′S 18°44′E
Area:18.8 km2
Municipality: Swartland

Jan Van Riebeek was the first to coin the name “Het Zwarte Land’ this referred to the colour of the vegetation (The Renosterbos) which grows in the area and turns black in the hot summer.
The area was inhabited by Khoi people for centuries, and Europeans began to settle in the area of the hot sulphur springs during the 1700s. The springs were renowned as a cure for rheumatism. Unfortunately, the curative springs were not developed and a shopping centre was built on the site of the springs with a fountain marking the original location of the spring.
The first farms were allocated in the area in 1703 The NG Kerk established a congregation which was known as “Swartlands Kerk” In 1829 the town was named after Sir Lowry Cole’s father-in-law the Earl of Malmesbury. The town acquired municipal status in 1860. The climate in Malmesbury is ideal for growing grain but there are also vineyards that grow well in the area.
Some of the beautiful historic buildings include a synagogue that was built in 1911. There was quite a big Jewish community in Malmesbury.
Today Malmesbury is the centre of the grain-growing industry in South Africa.

The license plate prefix in Malmesbury is CK and the postcodes are 7300 (streets) & 7299 (boxes)

WEATHER IN MALMESBURY TODAY

View all listings in malmesbury

Things to see and do in Malmesbury

Malmesbury Historic Walk Download brochure 1mb
Malmesbury Parkrun 08:00 every Saturday at ‘Die Bos’ on Barocca St, malmesbury@parkrun.com
The oldest milling company in the country is headquartered here. Bokomo was established in1919
Swartland Birding Route
Swartland Wine and Olive Route. Pinotage and hanepoot are local specialities.

Useful Numbers in Malmesbury

Municipality 022 482 4370
Police: 022 482 7500
Traffic department: 022 487 9400
Fire: 022 487 9479
Municipality 022 487 9400
Emergencies: o/h 022 487 9400 a/h 022 487 9479
Ambulance: 022 482 1161 10177
Post office;022 482 2422
Library:022 487 9439
Closest hospital; Swartland Hospital 022 482 1161
Pharmacy; Geard pharmacy 022 482 2557
SPCA: Swartland 022 492 2781
Schools: Swartland High; 022 482 1469
Swartland primary; 022 487 4595
Laerskool swartland; 022 482 2251
Wesbank secondary; 022 486 4868
Liebenburg primary; 022 486 4595
Naphakade primary;081 472 8697
Schoonspruit secondary; 022 486 4598
Museum; 022 482 233
Tourism (0)22 487 1133
Local paper” Die Courant”: 022 487 3221
Swartland Gazette: 022 482 3817

Malmesbury