History of Rhodes
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Rhodes History
Pioneering farmers settled the more remote areas of the Highlands of the Eastern Cape in the 1880s. Prior to this, the only inhabitants of this inhospitable region were seasonally migratory members of the San tribe.
The current state of Rhodes Village
While property prices have soared with the influx of tourists, the village maintains its quaint character and remains a fascinating glimpse into South Africa’s past.
Village Development and Naming
‘The origins of Rhodes lie in the establishment of agricultural activities and the concurrent development of the Dutch Reformed Church in the region. It was founded on the farm Tintern that belonged to a Mr Jim Vorster.
Vorster agreed to the establishment of the village on condition that 100 plots be sold and that it be named after the then Prime Minister of the Cape, Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902). A Mr Shaw of Sauer & Osmond duly sold the plots and Rhodes was founded on 16 September 1891. The rest of the farm was given to the village as commonage.
Rural legend has it that the village was first named Rossville. Despite careful archival research of extant documentation by the School of Architecture of the University of Natal, including a publication by P Raper entitled the ‘Dictionary of South African Place Names,’ no evidence of a name change from Rossville to Rhodes was found.
However, a possibility exists that as Ross was the Dutch Reformed minister at the time, this misconception is probably based on confusion between the name of the local church ward named Rossville in his honour and that of the village. Another possibility is that it was the figment of somebody’s imagination seeking to romance the origins of its name.
Rhodes Info Centre
The Founding of Rhodes
A land surveyor, Joseph Orpen and his brother Richard laid out farms in the Barkly East district and parts of the Herschel area. They immigrated to South Africa in 1864 and although originally from Dublin, the farms were given Scottish names – on account of the surveyor being of Irish origin? Their descendants still conduct farming activities on a property given to Orpen in lieu of cash for the job. Farms thus demarcated became available for purchase from the government on a “huurkoop” basis.
Development and Cultural Legacy
Over time, it grew with the establishment of the Dutch Reformed Church, a school, and key infrastructure like the Post Office and Court House, all of which shaped the village’s development.
The Dutch Reformed Church and Early Infrastructure
On the 15th June 1892, the cornerstone of the Dutch Reformed Church was laid. The population at this time was estimated at between 250 and 300 people.
The construction of the church was soon followed by that of the Post Office, Court Room, and Gaol complex that was completed in 1898 at a cost of the princely sum of 558 pounds 14 shillings and 10 pence. Construction of the Naudesnek Pass was started in 1895 on the advice of Stephanus Naude of the farm Dunley who was the first person to cross the mountain range with an ox-wagon.
Heavy snowfalls during the Anglo-Boer War stopped construction, and the pass was completed in 1905 under the direction of engineer Alfred Bain. The old wagon route can still be seen in places.
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Education & Schooling
Early records show that schooling started in 1894 with 45 pupils. By 1895, Rhodes boasted the largest school in the Barkly East district with 67 pupils. By 1912, this had increased to 90. In February 1916, a process to acquire land for a school was started. By the 6th of March 1918, the “Rhodes Education Site” was given to the village for the construction of a school. Sir Herbert Baker allegedly designed the school building, completed in 1924.
Baker left the Cape Colony in 1902 and South Africa for New Delhi in 1913 which was some three years before the good citizens of Rhodes started agitating for a formal school premises and facility. His partners Kendall and Morris or possibly Kendall on his own may well have designed it. Baker, Kendall, and Morris had a partnership until 1920 when Baker resigned.
Boarding School
Kendall & Morris continued to practice until 1925 when Morris left. A boarding school was started in about 1915 in the old Ginsberg Hotel run by Mr H Venter in 1905. It burnt down during its use as a hotel and was rebuilt to become the school hostel. Its hostel function ceased with the closure of the school. It became a family home with its heyday in the so-called “Hippie era” of the late 70s and early 80s. It was then used as a base station for the Tiffindell Ski Resort construction team and is the site on which Walkerbouts Inn was established in 1996. Major renovations were completed by June 1999 and it has continued in its current state since then.
The Decline and Revival
By 1928, there were 112 pupils and teachers with classes being given up to standard 8. By the 1940s the number of pupils declined to 70 and by 1947 there were only 30 to 40 pupils with 3 teachers. By 1948, Std 6 was the highest pupils could aspire to, and by 1967, there were only 20 pupils in attendance. The school finally closed in 1974. Another rural legend has it that Rhodes acknowledged the village being named after him by way of a donation of a wagonload of pine trees. Early photographs of the village as well as the lifespan of the species concerned debunk this charming anecdote. However, records show that 1 pound 17 shillings and 3 pence was paid to the Barkly East Municipality for pine trees (Pinus insegnus). Botanically speaking, these trees have a lifespan of approximately 70 years. Some can still be seen in the village which adds weight to the non-C J Rhodes origin of the trees.
Rhodes Info Centre
The Rise of Tourism and Property Trends
In 1970, houses were “sold” for the arrears in rates and taxes or even given away. By 1987 good-sized houses sold for up to R30,000. By the mid-90s this had doubled. The same properties would now command prices in the region of R400,000.
Rhodes is Still A popular Destination
Rhodes remains a fascinating historical village, frozen in time yet gradually evolving with the passage of years. From its early agricultural roots to the influence of the ‘hippie movement’ and rise in tourism, the village continues to be a living testament to the challenges and successes of the past.