Beaufort West

The town of Beaufort West was founded in 1818 on the farm of Hooivlakte at the foot of the Nuweveld Mountain Range. One of the first to receive land was G.R. Opperman, who received his land from the Governor in 1760.

The town was named for the Duke of Beaufort, Governor at the time. The 'West' was added later to avoid confusion with Port Beaufort and Fort Beaufort. In 1830 there were two streets and approximately thirty homes.

Beaufort West was the first town to become a municipality and was connected to the telegraph line in 1875. A few years later Beaufort West was linked to Cape Town by a railway line. It developed into a major railway depot and marshalling yard on the line north.

Over the past 50 years the town has developed into a relatively large distribution and manufacturing centre in the Karoo. This is one of the country's largest sheep farming areas and is also known for its pedigree horses and merino studs.

The town hall is a national monument and Beaufort West has several Victorian-style single- and double-storey, turn of the century houses. The Dutch Reformed Church is a notable landmark, with its 46 metre high spire. The town's most famous citizen, Dr Christiaan Barnard, was the first man to perform a heart transplant in 1967 in Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town.

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