History of Zoar and Amaliensfontein
Province: Western Cape
Garden route
Coordinates: 33°29′S 21°26′E
Area: 49.10 km2
Municipality: Kannaland
Origin of the names
These names are usually referred to in conjunction and seldom separately
Zoar and Amalienstein began as a Mission station. It was founded on the farm Elandsfontein in 1817 by a group of about 200 Germans seeking refuge from religious persecution in their home country. The farm was bought by the Berlin Mission Society in order to establish a mission station. The church was completed in 1853 and named Amalienstein for its benefactor Frau Amalie Von Stein. Donkey cart rides offer tourists the opportunity to experience traditional old Karoo farm life.
The name Zoar is named after the town on the Red Sea. The name first meant “insignificance” but according to the story in Genesis “when Lot fled thither” the meaning became “Haven Zoar is situated at the foot of the Seweweeks poort. During the 1700s the pass was used by brandy smugglers who wanted to avoid paying taxes. Some say the pass is so named because it took seven weeks to cross the mountains, but the poort was in fact named after Reverend Zerwick.
Today the area is quiet and rural but there is a move toward promoting tourism. Various cultivars of apples and pears were imported from Germany and the Reverend A. Schmidt won a gold medal for dried fruit at the World Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851.Farms and gardens in the area are irrigated from a perennial stream in the Seweweeks Poort in the Klein Swaartberg
The postal code for Zoar and Amaliensfontein is 6655
WEATHER IN ZOAR AND AMALIENSFONTEIN TODAY
All listings in Zoar and Amaliensfontein
Useful Numbers in Zoar and Amaliensfontein
Police: 028 551 8100/ 8106
Traffic department: Ladismth -028 551 8000
Fire: 028 551 1023
Water:028 551 8000
Electricity: Ladismith 028 551 1293
Ambulance: 10177
Post office; Agency 028 561 1349
Library:028 561 1841
Closest hospital;Alan Blythe-Ladismith-028 551 1342
Clinic; Zoar – 028 561 1305 Amalienstein- 028 561 1369
SPCA: 072 277 1056 / 023 1110058 Barrydale
Schools:Amalienstein Lb Primary School, Zoar- 0285611382