History of Matjiesfontein
- Province: Western Cape
- Karoo
- Coordinates:33°13′S 20°35′E
- Area:1.22 km2
- Municipality: Laingsburg
Origins
The town’s name comes from a type of sedge called Cyperus textilis, which the Khoekhoen used to weave mats (matjies) for building their huts. The Khoikhoi herders and San hunter-gatherers originally inhabited the region. Later, Afrikaner Trekboers and Griqua settlers moved into the area following the arrival of early European colonists
The Grand Duchess of the Karoo
Matjiesfontein, often called “The Grand Duchess of the Karoo”, was established in 1884 and owes its origins to the vision and enterprise of James Douglas Logan, a Scotsman who transformed the area into a Victorian village of distinction.
The town’s name derives from Cyperus textilis, a sedge used by the Khoekhoen to weave mats (matjies) for their huts. The region was originally inhabited by San hunter-gatherers and Khoikhoi herders, later joined by Afrikaner Trekboers and Griqua settlers.
Founding of the village
James Douglas Logan arrived in South Africa in 1877 after being shipwrecked in Simon’s Bay. Beginning as a porter at the new Cape Town station, he rose quickly within the Cape Government Railways, becoming superintendent at Touws River. In 1890, suffering from chest complaints, Logan found the Karoo air beneficial and chose to settle at Matjiesfontein.
He purchased a farm, named it Tweedside, and with his wife Emma Haylett planted orchards and wheat, sank boreholes, and discovered a reliable water supply. Using pipes, he channelled water to the growing village and even established a private railway siding to transport fruit efficiently. His home was among the first in South Africa to feature electric light and waterborne sewerage.
Logan also established a mineral water factory that produced lemonade, ginger ale, and soda for locals and travellers, further cementing his role as a pioneer.
From 1884 onwards, Logan developed Matjiesfontein as a Victorian settlement. The main street was lined with ornate late-Victorian buildings, unified by cast-iron railings, frilled woodwork, and corrugated-iron roofs. London streetlamps lit the road, which ran parallel to the railway line and station.
Key buildings included the old courthouse (1897), a Cape Gothic church, terraced houses, the Buist House, the post office and bank, the soda-water factory, the Masonic Losieshuis, and most famously, the Lord Milner Hotel, completed in 1899.
The Lord Milner Hotel and the Anglo-Boer War
The graceful hotel was named after Lord Alfred Milner, British High Commissioner for South Africa. During the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), Matjiesfontein became the headquarters of the Cape Command. At its peak, over 12,000 British troops and 20,000 horses were stationed in the area.
. The Lord Milner Hotel served as a military hospital, its turret used as a lookout post. Below the village, a usually dry riverbed sometimes swelled into a torrent after rains, adding to the strategic nature of the site.
Ghostly are live-in guests at the Hotel:
Rumours abound of people having seen Lucy floating around the passages and the stairs, wearing a negligee. Possibly, it’s someone who died in the building. However, she’s friendly and too ethereal to be scary. Lucy has never checked out of her room on the first floor! She could be one of the voices that are sometimes heard in the dead of night.
Other times, loud quarrels erupt to disturb the tranquillity of the Karoo; sounds of hundreds of glasses and plates being smashed can be heard. But when someone goes to investigate, everything is quiet and nothing has been broken
A Health Resort
Thanks to its dry Karoo climate, Matjiesfontein soon developed into a fashionable health spa. Visitors from around the world came seeking relief from respiratory ailments, reinforcing Logan’s own reason for settling there.
Legacy
James Douglas Logan’s vision made Matjiesfontein the first South African village with both electric streetlights and modern sewerage. His work left behind a Victorian time capsule that today stands as a national monument.
Logan died in 1920 and was buried about 10 kilometres from the town he built, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, enterprise, and enduring heritage in the heart of the Karoo.
JD Logan
The Milner Hotel and Military History
In 1899, Logan built the Milner Hotel, which played a crucial role during the early part of the Anglo-Boer War as a military hospital. At the height of the war, a British remount encampment for over 10 000 infantry and 20,000 horses was established in the surrounding veld..
were stationed in and around Matjiesfontein. Logan’s forward-thinking approach made Matjiesfontein the first village in South Africa to feature both electric streetlights and water-borne sewerage, marking it as a pioneer in modern amenities.
A Health Spa Destination
Logan chose to settle in the Karoo for its dry air, which benefited his weak chest. The village later developed into a fashionable health spa, attracting guests worldwide for its reputed healing environment, particularly for those with respiratory diseases.
Innovations and Legacy
In addition to his other achievements, Logan also established a mineral water factory, producing lemonade, ginger ale, and soda for locals and travellers alike. James Logan, the founder of Matjiesfontein, passed away in 1920 and was laid to rest in a small cemetery 10 kilometres from the town.
Space exploration
Matjiesfontein has been chosen as one of only three locations worldwide to place a LEGS (Lunar Exploration Ground Site) facility, as it is an ideal location to monitor outer space
Today, Matjiesfontein stands as a testament to Logan’s legacy, drawing visitors to its historic charm and the storied past of “The Grand Duchess of the Karoo. Since 1975, the whole village has been reserved as a National Heritage Site.
The postcode for Matjiesfontein is 6901 (Boxes only)
The nearest towns are Laingsburg and Touws River
Things to see and do in Matjiesfontein
- Mountain Biking: a 20km mountain biking track with beautiful views of the Witteberg Mountains.
- Bus Tour: Take a historical tour around Matjiesfontein in an old red double-decker London bus. Be summoned to dinner by trumpet, soak up the history in the Transport or Victorian museums, take in the uniqueness of the Karoo with veld walks, hikes and mountain bikes, visit the Boer War British Army remount encampment site (c.1900) nearby,
- Stargazing Great Karoo region has very clear skies, which offer spectacular stargazing
- Old post office, Olive Schreiner posted her numerous letters from this post office. Now, a gift shop the house next door where she stayed is still known as Schreiner Cottage, she wrote The Story of An African Farm while living in Matjiesfontein.
- Visit the Transport Museum
- Visit the Victorian museum
- Take a free guided walking tour with Voice Map
- The pink church- Originally the school and concert hall
- Ghost tour
- The cricket pitch- The first official game played at the opening of the waterworks in November 1889
- Buist House, the soda-water factory, the post office and bank, the wood-and-iron Masonic Losieshuis and the towered splendours of the Lord Milner Hotel are built in the late-Victorian style and embellished with cast-iron frills
- The old bank building, The African Banking Corporation, opened chambers here in June 1897
- Courthouse- The old courthouse, dated 1897 and embellished with the Royal cypher ‘VR’ The 1901 trial and conviction of Boer hero General Gideon Scheepers took place here
- Flourmill and mineral waterworks- Steam locomotives needed 300 litres of water and 75 kg of coal for every km travelled, which is over 250,000 litres of water just to cross the Karoo!
- British Army remount camp- In front of the railway station
- Wind farm
- Turck se pas
WEATHER IN MATJIESFONTEIN TODAY
all listings in Matjiesfontein
Useful Numbers
- Police: Laingsberg 023 551 8200
- Municipality; 023 551 1019
- Traffic department: 023 551 1021
- Fire: Laingsberg 023 551 1019
- Water: 023 551 1019
- Electricity: 023 551 1019
- Ambulance: 10177
- Post office; post agency 023 551 3002
- Library: 023 551 1019
- Closest hospital: Laingsberg Clinic 023 551 1390
- SPCA: Laingsberg diere in nood 0827305597/071 419 5977/0840750241
- Schools: Matjiesfontein LB primary school 023 561 3027
- Museums; Marie Rawdon museum; 023 561 3011
Transport museum; 023 561 3011
