Harrismith

Harrismith is the centre of one of five wool-producing districts in Southern Africa. It was established in 1849 and named after the glamorous, hard-riding British Governor, Sir Harry Smith. The first site of Harrismith proved to be lacking water, and the town was moved to its present site in January 1850.

During the Kimberly diamond rush Harrismith became a busy staging post on the Natal transport route, and hotels, stores and public buildings sprang up. In 1892 a railway opened from Natal to Harrismith, but due to politics it went no further for several years.

A major base during the Anglo-Boer War, Harrismith is now a delightful, spacious town with several handsome churches and public buildings. The Platberg ('flat mountain') is the location for the annual Berg Marathon, one of the most prestigious cross-country events in Southern Africa.

The race began when a Boer War Major referred to the Platberg mountain as "that little hill of yours". The locals took exception to this, and challenged him to reach the top in under an hour. Major Belcher accepted, won the challenge easily, and then donated a floating trophy to be awarded to the first person to reach the top in a race every year. The race now covers several peaks in the area.

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