I was really surprised at how many monuments and historic buildings Middelburg Karoo has. The town was founded in 1852 as a midway point between Graaff-Reinet and Colesberg.
A site for Middelburg was chosen, as its name implies, in the very centre of a circle of other platteland towns – thus providing a hub for the secular and spiritual life of a pioneer farming community that was, till then, very far from anywhere.
After doing my rounds visiting all the historic cemeteries I have posted about before, I headed to the Mayor’s Garden in the centre of town with the hope of finding the gate open.
I read somewhere that you could contact the tourism office for the lock’s combination, but I tried my luck anyway. And luck was on my side with a couple of municipal workers cleaning up in the park.
Inside are four monuments/items of historic importance, starting with the Burger Monument. This graceful obelisk was erected in 1929 to honour the memory of 20 Burghers who fell during the Anglo-Boer War. Among them count Commandant J. C. Lötter, and his right-hand man, Lieutenant Pieter Wolfaardt, both executed just outside Middelburg where the Stoel Monument stands.
Close to the Burger Monuments is the Old Waterpump. Queen Victoria gave this gift to the town in 1887 when she had reigned for 50 years. The Victoria- & Jubilee Streets have been named then.
Another historic item to be found is the old Steam Roller. The steam roller was bought in 1938 to build streets and to prepare a few streets for tarring.
Lastly there is the Wall of Remembrance. The Wall honours the memory of those from the town who fell during the two World Wars, the Anglo-Boer War and the Bush War in Namibia. Sadly, there are no plaques on the wall and only laminated sheets. Hoping there are plaques in the pipeline.
