Queenstown, Eastern Cape
Encyclopedia
Queenstown, named after Queen Victoria, is a town in the middle of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
, roughly half way in between the towns of Cathcart
and Sterkstroom. It is currently the commercial, administrative, and educational centre of the prosperous surrounding farming district. The nickname of the town, 'Rose Capital of South Africa', comes from the large gardens and open places for flowers (especially roses) around and in the middle of the town.
, who named the settlement, and then fort, after Queen Victoria. The town prospered from its founding up to the world wide depression of the 1930s, and again thereafter. In the 1960s, the majority of the Black population were moved east to the township of Ezibeleni
, as part of the attempt to move African people to so-called 'homelands'. The area has in the past had very severe weather problems, luckily, often only affecting the surrounding areas. In 2002, heavy snowfall around Queenstown caused a severe disaster, especially since the area wasn't funded or ready for such a disaster.. Then, in 2004, the surrounding areas of the Eastern Cape were affected by strong winds and heavy rainfall, although Queenstown once again escaped much flooding and some wind damage, power sortages soon followed. Other natural disasters include droughts and veld fires (wild fires).
, Queenstown Girls' High School, Kwa Komani Comprehensive, Hexagon High School and Maria Louw High School are among well-known secondary schools in Queenstown. The former has produced many fine sportsmen, including Tony Greig
, Darryl Cullinan, Kenny McEwan, Kaya Malotana, Lionel Cronje, Justin Kemp
, Rob Kempson, Dick Muir and Lwazi Mvovo, .
Excellent Afrikaans schools, namely Hangklip Primary and Senior set high standards academically and on the sport field.
which forms part of the Great Kei system of rivers
and has a refreshing climate and plentiful water supply from the surrounding rugged mountains. The water is collected in Bonkolo (named changed from Bongolo recently) Dam, set in the hills, used extensively for recreation and watersports. Each year, around the beginning of June, the town holds an art exhibition with the emphasis on paintings and sculpture. Perhaps inspired by some of the most interesting Bushman
paintings in nearby caves, which are accessible to the visitor.
Close to Queenstown is a nature reserve (Lawrence de Lange Game Reserve) with numerous antelope
, white rhinoceros
and spectacular flowering plants together with panoramic views from the mountain summit.
East of the town lies the much larger Ezibeleni
township, which although roughly the same size as Queenstown by area, has by far a much larger population.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, roughly half way in between the towns of Cathcart
Cathcart, Eastern Cape
Cathcart is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, named after Sir George Cathcart. Sir George Cathcart was governor of the Cape of Good Hope 1852-1853.The town is situated on the N6, just north of Stutterheim on route to Queenstown...
and Sterkstroom. It is currently the commercial, administrative, and educational centre of the prosperous surrounding farming district. The nickname of the town, 'Rose Capital of South Africa', comes from the large gardens and open places for flowers (especially roses) around and in the middle of the town.
History
The town was founded in early 1853 under the direction of Sir George CathcartGeorge Cathcart
General The Honourable Sir George Cathcart GCB was a British general and diplomat.-Military career:He was born in Renfrewshire, son of William Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart. After receiving his education at Eton and in Edinburgh, he was commissioned into the Life Guards in 1810...
, who named the settlement, and then fort, after Queen Victoria. The town prospered from its founding up to the world wide depression of the 1930s, and again thereafter. In the 1960s, the majority of the Black population were moved east to the township of Ezibeleni
Ezibeleni
Ezibeleni is a township in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It was established in the 1960s and officially recognised in 1974, when black South Africans were not allowed to live, but only to work, in the white-dominated Queenstown...
, as part of the attempt to move African people to so-called 'homelands'. The area has in the past had very severe weather problems, luckily, often only affecting the surrounding areas. In 2002, heavy snowfall around Queenstown caused a severe disaster, especially since the area wasn't funded or ready for such a disaster.. Then, in 2004, the surrounding areas of the Eastern Cape were affected by strong winds and heavy rainfall, although Queenstown once again escaped much flooding and some wind damage, power sortages soon followed. Other natural disasters include droughts and veld fires (wild fires).
Education
Queen's CollegeQueen's College (South Africa)
Queen's College is situated at the foot of the picturesque Stormberg Mountains in the pleasant Eastern Cape town of Queenstown. Established in 1858, it is the oldest school on the Border - a region famous for its fine schools...
, Queenstown Girls' High School, Kwa Komani Comprehensive, Hexagon High School and Maria Louw High School are among well-known secondary schools in Queenstown. The former has produced many fine sportsmen, including Tony Greig
Tony Greig
Anthony "Tony" William Greig is a former English Test cricketer and currently a commentator.Born in Queenstown, South Africa, Greig qualified to play for England by virtue of his Scottish father. He was a tall batting all-rounder who bowled both medium pace and off spin. He became captain of the...
, Darryl Cullinan, Kenny McEwan, Kaya Malotana, Lionel Cronje, Justin Kemp
Justin Kemp
Justin Miles Kemp is a South African cricketer who has played Test and ODI cricket for South Africa since the 2000–01 season. Kemp is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast medium bowler. His batting is noted for the high frequency of sixes, particularly those which are hit out of the stadium...
, Rob Kempson, Dick Muir and Lwazi Mvovo, .
Excellent Afrikaans schools, namely Hangklip Primary and Senior set high standards academically and on the sport field.
Ethnic groups
In 1904 the city had a population of about 9616, of which 4444 (43%) were white.Environment
Queenstown lies on the Komani RiverKomani River
Komani River, is a short river originating north of Queenstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, and joining up with the Klaas Smits River, just south of the same town, however the Bongolo Dam, is situated on this river....
which forms part of the Great Kei system of rivers
Great Kei River
The Great Kei River is a river in South Africa in the Eastern Cape province. Before it becomes the Great Kei, the Swart-Kei River and the Wit-Kei River join forces, northeast of Cathcart. It flows for 520 km and ends at the Indian Ocean with the small town Kei Mouth on the west bank...
and has a refreshing climate and plentiful water supply from the surrounding rugged mountains. The water is collected in Bonkolo (named changed from Bongolo recently) Dam, set in the hills, used extensively for recreation and watersports. Each year, around the beginning of June, the town holds an art exhibition with the emphasis on paintings and sculpture. Perhaps inspired by some of the most interesting Bushman
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
paintings in nearby caves, which are accessible to the visitor.
Close to Queenstown is a nature reserve (Lawrence de Lange Game Reserve) with numerous antelope
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
, white rhinoceros
White Rhinoceros
The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...
and spectacular flowering plants together with panoramic views from the mountain summit.
The Hexagon
The layout of Queenstown reflects its original objective as a defensive stronghold for the frontier area and has a most unusual design. There is a central hexagonal area where canon or rifle fire could be directed down six thoroughfares radiating from the centre. The canon sites have now been replaced with gardens and a central fountain was the dominant feature. A striking abstract sculpture replaced the fountain as part of the town's 150th anniversary. The Hexagon still exists, with the outer road surrounding it named Robinson Road, which encircles it. Surrounding the Hexagon to the east and west lies more commercial and administrative facilities.City Layout
Like all South African towns the city is heavily segregated, and although non-white citizens are now free to travel, work, live and shop in the commercial sectors and housing areas, there is some integration. The vast majority of the black population do not earn enough money to live in the more wealthy suburbs. Currently, formerley 'white suburbs' surround the Hexagon to the north, east and west, however, one of the city's great townships (and squatter camps) lies to the south. It is a collection of black and coloured townships named Mungisi, Aloevale and many others, but due to a large amount of expansion, a new township, Victoria Park has been built to the south-east of the city. As for the actual city of Queenstown, it includes the suburbs of Sandringham, Kingsway, Windsor, Bergsig, Blue rise, Balmoral and a new faster growing suburb of Komani Park. In recent years growth has been slow in this part of the city, with the only real expansion being in a few small gated communities in Komani Park and in the north of the town.East of the town lies the much larger Ezibeleni
Ezibeleni
Ezibeleni is a township in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It was established in the 1960s and officially recognised in 1974, when black South Africans were not allowed to live, but only to work, in the white-dominated Queenstown...
township, which although roughly the same size as Queenstown by area, has by far a much larger population.