Celebrating Heritage in Swellendam

The annual Symposium of the Heritage Association of South Africa (HASA) was hosted in Swellendam by the Swellendam Heritage Association (SHA) from Thursday 14th to Saturday, October 16th. Apart from Cape Town and Stellenbosch, Swellendam is the oldest town in South Africa and both town and district boast many historically significant sites and well-kept historical buildings.

The Swellendam Heritage Association has been in existence and actively involved in heritage-related matters for the past 40 years.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not possible to arrange an annual symposium in the course of 2020. 

A busy program

Delegates and interested persons who attended this time around, commented positively on the “enthusiasm” of the various speakers, on the “insightful discussions” and on the “beautiful buildings”. The theme chosen for the symposium was aptly titled: “Overberg Potjie” with reference to the various communities that have been coming together here in the course of time.

On Saturday and Sunday guided tours were organised to historical buildings and farmsteads and historically significant sites in and around Swellendam. The guided tour started off with a visit to the VOC of old's cattle outpost at Rietvallei after which a visit was also paid to the old missionary town of Zuurbraak.

The tour ended at what was on occasion described as “the finest house in the Overberg”, the Klipperivier farmstead that dates back to the 18th century. Swellendam also boasts the “oldest continuously held agricultural show in the country if not in the world”.

If it were not for the COVID-19 pandemic, this year would have seen the 188th agricultural show here. A plaque was handed over to commemorate this very special piece of local history at Klipperivier. A fitting conclusion to a very special event for the Swellendam heritage Association.

Ora Laubscher