Towns and suburbs

Murraysburg

Murraysburg is a small town in the Great Karoo region of the Western Cape, South Africa. It is known for its sheep farming, rural community, and historic architecture.

Murraysburg is a small town in the Great Karoo within the Western Cape. The town is located along regional roads connecting Willowmore to the east and Prince Albert to the west.

Murraysburg lies in a semi-arid landscape of plains and low hills typical of the Karoo. The town serves as a local hub for surrounding sheep farms and rural settlements and retains several historic buildings reflecting early colonial architecture.

History of Murraysburg

Before the European settlers arrived, the Karoo was populated by San hunter-gatherers. The concept of ownership was foreign to them, so they hunted the Trekboer’s livestock as they did the wildlife in the area. This did not sit well with the settlers, and it caused a lot of conflict. This conflict lasted for many years as farms were attacked, houses burned, and herdsmen were killed. In retaliation, many San were also killed. The San were eventually displaced when they migrated north towards the Kalahari. There are still paintings and rock engravings to be seen in the area.

Municipality in Murraysburg

Murraysburg was established on the farm Eenzaamheid, which is Dutch for loneliness. It became a municipality in 1856 and was named after Reverend Andrew Murray Snr, who was the minister at Graaff-Reinet and Barend O J Burger. The town was established, like so many Karoo towns, around the formation of a church parish. For years, the village was under the control of the Church, but Barend Burger, who managed the town for the Church, eventually found the task too difficult, so discussions took place with the Colonial Government. In 1860. The first members of a new Municipal Council were chosen, and Barend Burger became the first mayor of the town. The cornerstone of the Dutch Reformed Church was laid in October 1856.

Boer War Connection

A condition of the purchase of a residential plot in Murraysburg was that the plot had to be surrounded by a quince hedge. which explains the large number of quince hedges that are found there.
The 2nd Boer War, interestingly, affected Murraysburg. The town residents were technically subjects of the British crown, but their sympathies were with the Boer republics.

The colonial government attempted to form a town guard to offset Boer incursions, but not enough men were found to form such a guard. Therefore, the colonial forces mostly ignored Murraysburg as they had no guard to rely on. In fact, it was considered a rebel town as it assisted the Boers with medicine, weapons, and information. Anything to do with Britain was at risk. The magistrate’s office, the post office, and the houses belonging to English people were burned.

Annual rainfall in the district varies from as high as 500mm in the Sneeuberge in the east to as little as 200mm in the west, and snowfalls are a common occurrence in the mountains during the winter months. Murraysburg has always been blessed with water. There are large plots of fertile land behind most of the houses. The town’s leiwater web results in rich gardens.

Murraysburg is known today as a horse breeding centre.

The license plate prefix for Murraysburg is CBT, and the postcode is 6995

Things to see and do in Murraysburg

  • The Stillfees in April  www.stillfees.co.za
  • The Sneeuwberg Traverse in November Run over the Sneeuwberg mountains 049 844 0038
  • The Sneeuwberg Crawl MTB race in December  049 852 9113  www.snuwbergcrawl.co.za
  • There are great bird watching opportunities with over 260-species recorded, including a variety of water birds along the Buffalo River
  • Dokterskoppie (Doctor’s Hill) is named after Dr JJ Musket, the local medical practitioner who practised in the village during the 1880s. provides excellent views across the village and the surrounding countryside.
  •  Sophia van Heerden’s massive rose garden
  • The church organ was built by the firm V.G. Vowles from Bristol, England. It has 1712 pipes, of which 53 can be seen as a visual display, together with 32 registers
  • Stargazing is great in the Karoo due to the lack of ambient light.

Resources

Practical information for the Western Cape, regulations, permits and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide

Useful Numbers in Murraysburg

Residents and visitors can find important local contact numbers below, including police, medical services, utilities, and community facilities

  • Emergency Services

  • Police: 049-844 6500, 049-8446501
  • Fire: 10177
  • Ambulance: 10177

  • Medical

  • Closest hospital: 049 844 0053
  • Clinic: 049 844 0021

  • Municipal & Utilities

  • Municipality;023 449 1000
  • Water:023 415 8100
  • Electricity:023 415 8100

  • Transport & Roads

  • Traffic department: 048 881 2660
  • Road Emergencies / SANRAL: 0800 204 204

  • Community & Safety

  • SPCA: The Cradock Animal Shelter 048 881 2660
  •  Childline-116
  • 24-hour Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape:  0861 555 777
  • NSRI 087 094 9774
  • Social Services: 049 844 0018

  • Local Contacts and Community Resources 

  • Post office;049 844 0153
  • Library:049 844 0077

  • Schools in Murraysburg

  • Murraysburg High School- 049 844 0244
  • Murraysburg Primary School- -049 844 0089
  • Colourdots is an independent regional information resource for the Western Cape.
    Learn more about the project HERE

updated May 2026

 

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