Bredasdorp

Coordinates: 34°32′00″S 20°02′30″E / 34.53333°S 20.04167°E / -34.53333; 20.04167
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Bredasdorp
PO box
7280
Area code028

Bredasdorp is a town in the Southern Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa, and the main economic and service hub of that region. It lies on the northern edge of the Agulhas Plain, about 160 kilometres (100 mi) south-east of Cape Town and 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa.

Tourist attractions of Bredasdorp include the Heuningberg Nature Reserve, many historical churches, and art galleries and craft shops.[2] Bredasdorp is also home to the Shipwreck Museum which tells the stories of the 150 wrecks along the nearby Agulhas Reef. It is the only museum of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

History

The town of Bredasdorp was founded with the building of a

Napier
, were established.

Government

Bredasdorp is located in the Cape Agulhas Local Municipality; as the largest town in the municipality, Bredasdorp is divided between its second, third and fourth wards. The local municipality in turn forms part of the Overberg District Municipality; Bredasdorp is the location of the head offices of both municipalities.

Geography

Bredasdorp
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
25
 
 
26
17
 
 
29
 
 
26
17
 
 
30
 
 
24
16
 
 
52
 
 
22
14
 
 
38
 
 
20
12
 
 
51
 
 
18
10
 
 
50
 
 
17
9
 
 
56
 
 
18
9
 
 
30
 
 
19
10
 
 
35
 
 
21
12
 
 
27
 
 
23
14
 
 
19
 
 
25
16
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [3]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1
 
 
79
63
 
 
1.1
 
 
79
63
 
 
1.2
 
 
75
61
 
 
2
 
 
72
57
 
 
1.5
 
 
68
54
 
 
2
 
 
64
50
 
 
2
 
 
63
48
 
 
2.2
 
 
64
48
 
 
1.2
 
 
66
50
 
 
1.4
 
 
70
54
 
 
1.1
 
 
73
57
 
 
0.7
 
 
77
61
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Bredasdorp is situated at an elevation of between 40 and 120 metres (130 and 390 ft) on the slopes of the Heuningberg (Afrikaans for "Honey Mountain").[4] There is no significant watercourse flowing through the town, although the Kars Rivier flows past a few kilometres to the east.

Bredasdorp shares in the

Arniston, moderates the variation of temperature. Bredasdorp is mostly surrounded by farmland, chiefly grain, cattle and sheep farming; on the south-west side of the town the Heuningberg Nature Reserve protects the indigenous fynbos
vegetation.

Demography

In the

Afrikaans as their first language, 7.5% spoke Xhosa, and 4.3% spoke English
.

Economy

Canola fields near Bredasdorp

Besides the sheep farming, the town also boasts other agricultural activities, including wheat, canola, milk, and

Arniston
.

Surrounding towns in the Overberg District

Culture

  • The town has a museum dedicated to the shipwreck of the
    Arniston
    .
  • Audrey Blignault Room: Furnished in honour of Audrey Blignault who was born in Bredasdorp and who enjoyed national recognition as a writer.
  • The Heuningberg Nature Reserve is open to the public and views can be enjoyed of this rich fauna and flora area.

Coats of arms

Municipality (1) — In 1938, the town council adopted a pseudo-heraldic "coat of arms". The shield depicted a map of South Africa, with a dot marking Bredasdorp. In the centre of the map was a disc displaying a sheaf of wheat, a merino ram, a goat and a protea flower. A lighthouse was placed above the shield.[6]

Municipality (2) — The council assumed a proper coat of arms in 1966. It was granted by the administrator of the Cape Province on 12 August 1966[7] and registered at the Bureau of Heraldry in September 1969.[8]

The arms were : Per chevron Azure and Or, in chief a garb and a merino ram's head Or, in base a protea flower slipped and leaved proper. In layman's terms : the shield was divided into blue over gold by a chevron-shaped line and displayed a golden sheaf of wheat and a merino ram's head at the top and a protea flower with stem and leaves at the bottom.

The crest was a lighthouse and the motto Lux in tenebris. Two bontebok supported the shield.

Divisional council — The Bredasdorp divisional council (the local authority for the rural areas outside the town) approved its own coat of arms on 22 October 1965. The arms were granted by the administrator of the Cape Province on 1 September 1967[9] and registered at the Bureau of Heraldry in September 1969.[8]

The arms, designed by Schalk Pienaar, were : Azure, a chevron between two wheatsheaves in chief Or, and in base a Merino ram's head caboshed proper; on a chief Or three Bredasdorp lilies proper. In layman's terms : a blue shield displaying, from top to bottom, three Bredasdorp lilies on a gold stripe, two golden sheaves of wheat, a golden chevron, and a merino ram's head in natural colours.

The crest was a lighthouse and the motto In concilio concilium.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Bredasdorp". Census 2011.
  2. ^ "Top Attractions of Bredasdorp | Xplorio Bredasdorp". Xplorio.com. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  3. ^ "Bredasdorp Climate Guide". World Climate Guide. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  4. ^ 3420CA & CC Bredasdorp (Map) (3rd ed.). 1:50 000. South Africa Topographic. Chief Directorate: National Geo-spatial Information. 1981.
  5. ^ "Main Place 'Bredasdorp'". Census 2001. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  6. ^ Depicted in the South African Railways and Harbours publication Bredasdorp and its District (1941).
  7. ^ Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette 3360 (12 August 1966).
  8. ^ a b National Archives of South Africa : Data of the Bureau of Heraldry
  9. ^ Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette 3419 (1 September 1967).

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bredasdorp&oldid=1215814575"