Albertinia, South Africa

Albertinia is a settlement in the Hessequa Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Albertinia
Dutch Reformed Church in Albertinia
Dutch Reformed Church in Albertinia
Albertinia is located in Western Cape
Albertinia
Albertinia
Albertinia is located in South Africa
Albertinia
Albertinia
Coordinates: 34°12′S 21°35′E / 34.200°S 21.583°E / -34.200; 21.583
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape
DistrictGarden Route
MunicipalityHessequa
Government
 • CouncillorHendrik Saayman (DA)[1]
Area
 • Total
5.76 km2 (2.22 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total
6,372
 • Density1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African10.6%
 • Coloured68.5%
 • Indian/Asian0.3%
 • White20.1%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
 • Afrikaans94.2%
 • English2.8%
 • Other3.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
6695
PO box
6695
Area code028

The town, located within the Hessequa region, is about 50 km west of Mossel Bay, at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, and is fondly referred to as the Aloe Capital of South Africa.[citation needed] The region in which the town is located in, is branded as The Explorer's Garden Route.

Plant Life

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Albertinia has two Aloe factories, as Aloe ferox, or Cape Aloe is indigenous to the area. Another plant indigenous to the Albertinia district is Thamnochortus insignis, commonly known as thatch, which is exported for commercial use.

Tourism

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The Dutch Reformed Church is often the centre stage for travel photography, and is one of the most recognized churches along the Garden Route.[citation needed]

History

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The town was laid out in 1900 on the farm Grootfontein and became a municipality in 1920. The name is derived from the surname of Johannes Rudolph Albertyn (1847-1920), the first Dutch Reformed minister to serve the community.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Ward Councillors". Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Main Place Albertinia". Census 2011.
  3. ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 56.