STEYTLERVILLE

 Upload a photo

In 1875 the farm Doorspoort, central to the heartland of Willowmore, Uitenhage and Jansenville, was purchased from the Cape Government in order to establish a town and church. A surveyor was contracted to subdivide the farm and to survey as a start 200 erven. In September 1880 these erven were auctioned and it fetched prices ranging from £80 to £30 an erf.

In 1876 Steytlerville was established and named after Reverend Steytler whose efforts resulted in the establishment of a new Dutch Reformed Congregation.

The exceptionally wide Main Street of Steytlerville was designed at the time to allow ox wagons to turn around at both ends. Nowadays it is divided by flower boxes planted with bougainvillas in the centre and the lamp poles are adorned with the coats of arms of families associated with the town and area. Houses provide fine examples of Edwardian and Victorian architecture.

Diamond Rush

In 1910 Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage was abuzz with the news that a diamond had been found on the farm Springbokvlakte in the Steytlerville district.

A Mr Dorfling had found a diamond of over four carats, among others. A group of prominent men in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage then formed the Springbokvlakte Diamond Prospecting and Developing Syndicate. They offered shares of one pound in the prospecting area. In those days the site was described as being eight hours by rail and by cart horse from Port Elizabeth. Mr PK Roberts was appointed to investigate the prospects and reports improved daily.

There were three shafts on the property, each approximately 35 feet deep and 220 feet in length. Several more diamonds had been discovered, but towards the end of November 1910, a hitch was found. According to the title deed of the farm over which the syndicate had the option of purchase, everything had to be put into a proper legal basis; the directors thought it advisable to suspend operations. And that was the end of the diamond rush in Steytlerville.