To irreverently quote one of the town’s past mayors: “Riversdale nestles under the watchful eye of the Sleeping Beauty...
”
However, he may well be forgiven his gaffe, as this distinctive mountain peak of the Langebergs does indeed evoke a feeling of protective dominance as it towers above the small cluster of buildings which comprises Riversdale.
As so many rural towns, Riversdale owes its being to the church. Until 1837 the region was part of the extended district of Swellendam, both magisterial and ecclesiastical, although religious services were commonly held at the homestead of the farm Zeekoegat owned by Hildegaard Mulder. This house still exists and is known as the Old Parsonage (Ou Pastorie).
On the 10th June 1837 a meeting was held on the farm Doornkraal to discuss the untenable situation and the minister of far-off Swellendam, Dr W. Robertson, proposed that a “Religious Foundation”, independent of the Church, be established. This Foundation was to be managed by twelve directors who, just a month later, bought Doornkraal from Hermanus Steyn with money collected by the congregation. On the 16th of August 1837 the first erven were sold and the Church Farm became a town.
Permission was asked to name the new town Riversville, for the Hon. Harry Rivers, Civil Commissioner of the Swellendam District, who had played a considerable part in the establishment of the Foundation and subsequently the town itself. Rivers was amenable, but indicated that he would prefer Riversdale as being more English and also more in keeping with the Dutch language.
On the 30th of August 1838 the town of Riversdale was proclaimed.
Riversdale has a moderate climate with rainfall throughout the year. With abundant water from the Vet River, agriculture is its main industry, producing wheat and other grains as well as fruit. Livestock farming includes cattle and dairy, sheep and ostriches, while proteas and other flowers are harvested on the mountains for the export market. Honeybush tea is also coming into its own as a lucrative crop.
Giving the town a distinctive odour are several species of the smelly Agathosma (one of those collectively known as buchu), which are indigenous to the mountains of the area and accompany one as the town is left behind along the Garcia Pass.
© Robert I. Sadler, 2004
© Robert I. Sadler, 2004