Worcester, South Africa: Difference between revisions
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* - 1861 - Old [[Town Hall]] completed |
* - 1861 - Old [[Town Hall]] completed |
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* - 1865 - [[Music]] [[Society]] formed, and by 1880 concerts through out town took place on a regular basis |
* - 1865 - [[Music]] [[Society]] formed, and by 1880 concerts through out town took place on a regular basis |
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* - 1872 - Barry [[Fairy Heatlie]], [[International Rugby Board]] [[Hall of Fame]] inductee is born in the Worcester District on April 25 |
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* - 1876 - First [[Telegraph]] Office and thrice weekly [[Postal Service]] |
* - 1876 - First [[Telegraph]] Office and thrice weekly [[Postal Service]] |
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* - 1876 - Formation of the Worcester Lodge of [[Freemasons]] |
* - 1876 - Formation of the Worcester Lodge of [[Freemasons]] |
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* - 1877 - On the 3rd of January a Worcester [[Cricket]] team played for the first time against a Cape Town side. Matches took place at Church-, Market and Queen Squares. Players were organised into three local teams, Rangers, Worcester and United and played their matches on Saturdays. |
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* - 1877 - [[Lawn]] [[Tennis]] played at the Standard Courts for the first time |
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* - 1877 to 1885 - At this time, while the railway was under construction to Kimberley, travellers to the Kimberley fields were carried from Cape Town to Worcester in one day, spent the night at a hotel, and then carried on the next day to the railhead, where coaches met the trains to take passengers on to Kimberley. [[Barney Barnato]], [[Cecil John Rhodes]], [[Alfred Beit]] etc stayed over in Worcester on many occasions. |
* - 1877 to 1885 - At this time, while the railway was under construction to Kimberley, travellers to the Kimberley fields were carried from Cape Town to Worcester in one day, spent the night at a hotel, and then carried on the next day to the railhead, where coaches met the trains to take passengers on to Kimberley. [[Barney Barnato]], [[Cecil John Rhodes]], [[Alfred Beit]] etc stayed over in Worcester on many occasions. |
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* - 1882 to 1890 - No important amount of [[coal]] was being mined in South Africa. Attempts were made to grow trees especially to provide wood for use in the [[engine]] [[furnaces]]. The trees chosen were blue gums, and successful [[forestation]] in Worcester, helped reduce the import of coal. |
* - 1882 to 1890 - No important amount of [[coal]] was being mined in South Africa. Attempts were made to grow trees especially to provide wood for use in the [[engine]] [[furnaces]]. The trees chosen were blue gums, and successful [[forestation]] in Worcester, helped reduce the import of coal. |
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* - 1886 - First [[Telephone]] installed |
* - 1886 - First [[Telephone]] installed |
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* - 1891 - Worcester Gold Mining Company Ltd founded. The company developed a gold mine at [[Barberton]] which eventually closed down, with substantial losses to the share-holders. |
* - 1891 - Worcester Gold Mining Company Ltd founded. The company developed a gold mine at [[Barberton]] which eventually closed down, with substantial losses to the share-holders. |
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* - 1892 - Worcester [[Mountain]] [[Club]] founded the first of its kind in South Africa. |
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* - 1895 - [[International Organization of Good Templars]] built a community hall in Porter Street, dedicated to the abstinence from alcohol. |
* - 1895 - [[International Organization of Good Templars]] built a community hall in Porter Street, dedicated to the abstinence from alcohol. |
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* - 1896 - Worcester [[Golf Club]] established. The early golfers wore red blazers and long white trousers and played on Church Square during the 1880s. |
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* - 1900 - On December 6 a mass meeting of some 10000 people, concerning the South African War took place in Worcester. The Chairman, Cronwright-Schreiner attacked [[Capitalism]] and was cheered by all and sundry. [[Australian]] troops were deployed to maintain law and order. |
* - 1900 - On December 6 a mass meeting of some 10000 people, concerning the South African War took place in Worcester. The Chairman, Cronwright-Schreiner attacked [[Capitalism]] and was cheered by all and sundry. [[Australian]] troops were deployed to maintain law and order. |
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* - 1901 - On the 3rd of January, with Boer Commandos in the vicinity, [[Martial Law]] was declared in the [[Cape Colony]], including Worcester |
* - 1901 - On the 3rd of January, with Boer Commandos in the vicinity, [[Martial Law]] was declared in the [[Cape Colony]], including Worcester |
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* - 1903 - The Worcester [[Chamber of Commerce]] was established in April, when 65 town and 44 country members were enrolled free of entrance fee. The first AGM was held in September 1904. On that date the total annual [[import]] to SA amounted to £35 million. The [[exports]] totalled £25 million per annum. The gross traffic receipts for the Railway Companies came to £3 million and the “European” population of the country stood at 1 million. |
* - 1903 - The Worcester [[Chamber of Commerce]] was established in April, when 65 town and 44 country members were enrolled free of entrance fee. The first AGM was held in September 1904. On that date the total annual [[import]] to SA amounted to £35 million. The [[exports]] totalled £25 million per annum. The gross traffic receipts for the Railway Companies came to £3 million and the “European” population of the country stood at 1 million. |
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* - 1904 - Worcester Band, Philharmonic Society and Academy of Music formed |
* - 1904 - Worcester Band, Philharmonic Society and Academy of Music formed |
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* - 1905 - Worcester [[Athletics]] and [[Cycling]] Club founded |
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* - 1905 - The [[MCC]] played a first class cricket match against a Worcester side at Boland Park. |
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* - 1906 - [[Swimming]] Club founded |
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* - 1907 - Piscatorial Club founded |
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* - 1908 - Good Hope [[Café]] and [[Film theatre|Cinema]] was started by the first [[Greeks|Greek]] resident of Worcester. Mr Costas Drigos bought the property and by 1920 he sold to the Gianellos brothers. In the early days most meetings of social-, political- or sport organizations were held at the Good Hope Café. |
* - 1908 - Good Hope [[Café]] and [[Film theatre|Cinema]] was started by the first [[Greeks|Greek]] resident of Worcester. Mr Costas Drigos bought the property and by 1920 he sold to the Gianellos brothers. In the early days most meetings of social-, political- or sport organizations were held at the Good Hope Café. |
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* - 1909 - [[Boy Scouts]] Troop established at Worcester |
* - 1909 - [[Boy Scouts]] Troop established at Worcester |
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* - 1923 - S.B. Joël XI played a first class cricket match against a Worcester side at Boland Park. |
* - 1923 - S.B. Joël XI played a first class cricket match against a Worcester side at Boland Park. |
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* - 1926 - [[Child Welfare]] established |
* - 1926 - [[Child Welfare]] established |
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* - 1931 - Schalk du Toit and Alvi van der Merwe, whilst playing for the Worcester Rugby Football Club, are selected to tour with [[Bennie Osler]]'s [[Springbok]] team to the [[British Isles]] with Van der Merwe playing in the test against [[Wales]]. |
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* - 1952 - Steve Hoffman, Johan Naude and Albertus van der Merwe played for the Boland Provincial side in the [[Currie Cup]] final against [[Transvaal]]. |
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* - 1953 - Buks Marais played in the first two rugby tests against the Australian [[Wallabies]] and Steve Hoffman in the third test. |
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* - 1955 to 1960 - Albertus van der Merwe played as Springbok hooker in 12 test matches. |
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* - 1961 - The Eskom Hex River Power station, situated at Worcester, electrified the railway track from Cape Town to [[Beaufort West]], making it the longest electrified section in Africa. |
* - 1961 - The Eskom Hex River Power station, situated at Worcester, electrified the railway track from Cape Town to [[Beaufort West]], making it the longest electrified section in Africa. |
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* - 1969 - Mike Jennings is selected to tour with the Springbok rugby team to the British Isles. The tour would become infamous as the 'Demo tour'. |
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* - 1996 - The [[All Blacks]] played a rugby match on their South African tour, against the Boland Provincial side at Esselen Park. |
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* - Old Worcester motto: "Mutare Sperno" - I scorn to change |
* - Old Worcester motto: "Mutare Sperno" - I scorn to change |
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==Sport History== |
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On the 3rd of January 1877, a Worcester [[Cricket]] team played for the first time against a Cape Town side. Matches took place at Church-, Market and Queen Squares. Players were organised into three local teams, Rangers, Worcester and United and played their matches on Saturdays. In 1905 the [[MCC]] under Pelham (Plum) Warner played a match against a combined Worcester side. From 1908 matches were played in league format and competition for the Perkins Cup started. From 1916 to 1925 Richard (Dick) Luyt played for the Worcester Club as well as representing [[Western Province]] in the Currie Cup Competition. On January 20 and 21 1925, Luyt captained a Western Province Country Districts side at Worcester when they played against the S.B. Joël XI. During the 1950s Luyt would become a Springbok cricket selector. Between 1921 and 1922, the Springbok cricketer [[Jimmy Blackenberg]] played for Worcester and on the 2nd of August 1931; [[Edward Russell Henry Fuller]] was born in Worcester. Boland Park would have to wait until 1992 to see first class cricket again. By this time [[Claude William Henderson]], born and educated at Worcester was the new cricketing star. Henderson would represent South Africa at international level. Lawn Tennis was played at the Standard Courts from 1877 and by 1906, two clubs played competitive tennis in Worcester. |
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Barry [[Fairy Heatlie]] was born at Glen Heatlie in the district of Worcester, on April 25, 1872, one of nine brothers who were all good athletes and sportsmen. He was selected for Western Province at the age of 18, and for South Africa in his 20th year. Altogether he represented Western Province in 41 matches and he was never on the losing side in 26 [[Currie Cup]] matches. Heatlie was a big, robust forward and an intelligent, inspiring leader. When Heatlie was given the captaincy of the South Africans for the final test in 1896, he decided to supply his team with jerseys from the Old Diocesan Club. It was a happy coincidence that the jerseys were green and that South Africa therefore won her first international wearing what was to become the national colour. South Africa won the test 5 – 0 and afterwards Heatlie was carried around the field in triumph. Barry Heatlie and his 14 hereos had to rely on public transport to get home after their historic triumph. |
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⚫ | In 1882 a Worcester Rugby team played in the first recorded match against De Doorns, “A special train was engaged and a tremendous crowd of enthusiasts proceeded to the Valley for a whole day’s picnicking and some football.” The Church Council complained about this “tendency of the age,” matches played on Saturday afternoon interfered with the Preparation Service for Sunday Sermon. The Rugby Club was founded by Jimmy de Jongh, a local lawyer and started competition in the Western Province Country League in 1884. For the first league match played against Malmesbury, the team left Worcester on the Thursday to only return on Monday. Malmesbury declared match day as a Public Holiday. Charles Heatlie represented the Cape Colony against the first British side in 1891 and under his captaincy Worcester won the Country Cup from 1889 to 1894. The club again won the Cup in 1897 when Noble Heatlie was captain. |
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Percy Allport was educated at Worcester and became a [[Springbok]] when he represented South Africa in 1910. Allport played at fullback in the last two tests of the series against the fourth English touring side. With the series poised at one win each, the third test at [[Newlands]] created more public interest than any other rugby match up to then and for the first time reports in the old newspapers refer to the “perpetual Newlands roar.” The highlight of the match was undoubtedly a try scored by Allport. It was to be 45 years before Roy Dryburgh became only the second Springbok fullback in history to score a try in a test. |
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Richard Robins (Dick) Luyt was born at Ceres and was ranked by his contemporaries as a centre as good as [[Japie Krige]]. He had the same uncanny ability to create openings for his teammates and it would seem as if he was South Africa’s first hard-tackling centre. Dick Luyt who was a medical doctor settled in Worcester during 1916 and played and captained the Worcester club until 1922. |
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In 1931, Schalk du Toit and Alvi van der Merwe were selected to tour with [[Bennie Osler]]’s Springbok side to the [[United Kingdom]] with Van der Merwe playing in the test against Wales. Buks Marais who was educated at Worcester became a Springbok in 1949 when he played in two tests against the [[All Blacks]]. He toured with the Springboks to Europe in 1951/52 and played in the test against [[Scotland]]. In 1953 he returned to Worcester and again played in the first two tests against the [[Wallabies]]. In 1952 the Boland Provincial side played in the Currie Cup final against [[Transvaal]]. Steve Hoffman, Johan Naude and Albertus van der Merwe played for the Boland team. Hoffman would become a Springbok in 1953 and Van der Merwe would represent the Springboks in 12 tests from 1955 to 1960. |
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In 1969 Mike Jennings was selected to tour with the Springboks to [[Britain]]. The tour would become infamous as the “Demo tour.” Johan Oosthuizen, born and educated at Worcester, would represent the Springboks in 9 tests from 1974 to 1976. During 1996 the All Blacks played a rugby match on their South African tour, against the Boland Provincial side at Esselen Park. |
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The early golfers wore red blazers and long white trousers and played on Church Square during the 1880s. The first [[Golf]] Club in Southern Africa was the Royal Cape Golf Club founded in 1885. The Worcester Golf Club was established in 1896 and competition for the Donnison Cup between these two clubs started in 1905. |
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By 1892 Izak Meiring, Hennie de Wet and Jas Perkins founded the Mountain Club, the first of its kind in South Africa. Meiring who was a Pharmacist and amateur Surveyor, confirmed Matroosberg as the highest peak in the Western Province. Meiring’s plateau on the Brandwacht Mountains was named for him. The Worcester [[Athletic]] and [[Cycling]] Club was founded in 1905, the [[Swimming]] Club in 1906 and the Piscatorial Club in 1907. |
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Other notable sportsmen include Dicky Broberg who during 1971 set a new South African record in the 800m when he ran a time 1.44.70. This record would last until 1996 and would be the fastest in the world during 1971. In canoeing Stefan Hugo would become famous in winning the Berg River Canoe marathon in 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1984. In 1994/95 JJ Provoyeur would become only the third South African to single-handed circumnavigate the globe during the BOC Challenge. He completed the race in 133 days, bettering both Bertie Reed (140 days) and John Martin (147 days) records. |
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==Famous residents== |
==Famous residents== |
Revision as of 14:06, 7 November 2009
Worcester is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is located 120 km north-east of Cape Town on the N1 highway north to Johannesburg.
Being the largest town in the Western Cape's interior region, it serves as the administrative capitol of the Breede Valley Local Municipality and as regional headquarters for most Central- and Provincial Government Departments. The town also serves as the hub of the Western Cape's interior commercial, distribution and retail activity with a Shopping Mall, well developed Central Business District and infrastructure.
The Breede Valley Local Municipality was formed in December 2001 and includes the hamlets of Matroosberg, Touws River, De Doorns, Rawsonville and the town of Worcester. The people are represented by 31 Councillors, headed by an executive Mayor.
Census and population classification
LocationIn the early days of the Cape's history the main road through the great mountain barrier which streches northwards from the Hottentots-Holland, Wemmershoek and Slanghoek mountains to the Groot Winterhoek mountains, lay through the Roodezand Pass into the valley of Tulbagh. From here the road gave access in the south-east to “the original great rift valley of Africa” as Jan Smuts once described the Breede River Valley. Worcester is located at an elevation of 220m and can be reached by road either travelling on the N1 highway through the Huguenot Tunnel or by driving through spectacular Mountain passes. From Cape Town Du Toitskloof, from Wellington Bainskloof, from Malmesbury Nieuwekloof, from Ceres Mitchells, from Robertson Goree, from Hermanus Rooihoogte and from Johannesburg Hex River, with vistas over the Hex River Valley. Geograhically, the district is delimited mainly by mountains; to the southwest lies the massive Stettyns mountain range with an annual rainfall in excess of 2000 mm. To the west lie the Du Toitskloof mountains and northwest lies the Slanghoek, Little Drakenstein, Elandskloof and Lemiet mountain ranges. To the north rises the Hex River Mountains which include the towering peaks of Chavonness, Brandwacht, Fonteintjiesberg and Audensberg. Northeast of the town the colourful Keerom Mountain runs into the Langeberg range. Worcester and its surroundings form part of the Breede River catchment area, which is fed by a number of smaller rivers supplemented by the run-off from the winter snows in the mountains. The district also includes the Hex River Valley. Agricultural developmentWorcester district is as old as hunting grounds and cattle runs go in the Cape, but new as a settled area. Before 1700, the area now known as the Breede River Valley was a hunter's paradise, teeming with game and wild birds. The main source of income, especially the sale of elephant tusks came from hunting licenses issued by the Dutch East India Company. By 1709 European farmers were given grazing rights in the area “over de Breede Rivier.” In 1714 the first quitrent farms were released. Settlement in most cases was not on a permanent basis and “Hartebees huisies” were erected. When European settlers first arrived at the later Cape Colony, the Breede River Valley was inhabited by San hunter/gatherers and Khoi livestock farmers. The Gainou, Korannas and Afrkaner tribes traded livestock with the settlers. With the European settlers came the smallpox virus, that would turn into an epidemic for the Khoi people and by 1713 would take its toll on their existence as a people. European settlement took place at Waay Hoek, Bossiesveld, Kleinbosch, Slanghoek, Brandvalley, Vendutiekraal, Rooye Wal and Doornrivier. The first farms in the Hex River Valley were Kloppersbosch and De Buffelskraal, dating from 1731. With the European settlers came their slaves and eventually so-called free Khoi, who would settle on the farms as labourers. By 1830, 329 farms were cultivated in the district and by 1832 the town of Worcester was becoming a frontier town with the Market Square being used for stock sales. Many a fine animal changed ownership in the days when Worcester was a jumping off spot for the “togryers” of the 19th century. By the 1850s the necessity for the formation of a hamlet west of the Breede River had become clear; the ward was cut off from Worcester during the rainy season when the river burst it banks regularly. The farm Aan-de-Smalblaar was transported to Johannes Petrus Jordaan on the 23rd of July 1858. Jan Jordaan divided a portion of the farm into 57 residential plots and these were sold at a Public Auction on 11 June 1859. The hamlet of Rawsonville was named for William Rawson, the Cape Colonial Secretary. German settlers employed as "tagloners" on the surrounding farms from 1860 onwards, would soon use the abundance of fertile soil, water and their skilled labour to see the area evolve from livestock farming to cultivated land, orchards and vineyards. By 1865 the production from the flourishing vineyards compared favourably with the Stellenbosch and Paarl valleys. Much of the crop was dried for raisins, and this continued to be an important aspect of the local industry into the 20th century. The decline in the demand for raisins after the Second World War persuaded most of the farmers to convert to wine-grape growing: and in response to this change an extensive network of co-operative wineries sprang up. Today the Breede River Valley is the largest wine producing region in South Africa, contributing almost 25% of the country's viticultural output. The Olof Bergh Solera Brandy Cellar and the KWV Brandy Cellar form part of the South African Brandy Route and 33 Wineries produce and bottle in the Worcester area. The first export grapes planted in the Hex River Valley dates from 1875. Today the Hex River Valley produces more than 17 million cartons of table grapes per annum. In the dryer southern regions of the valley, Olive production have also been added in recent years. Central to this agricultural production, is the Greater Brandvlei Dam, with a capacity of 342 million cubic litres. The dam was completed in 1936, fully extended by 1987 and provides water to various irrigation schemes in the valley. Urban developmentWith the Cape Colony interior expanding with the settlement of an increasing number of European settlers, Lord Charles Somerset instructed Magistrate Fischer of Tulbagh, to find a location to establish a new deputy magisterial seat during 1818. Fischer duly reported that the two quitrent farms, De Lange Rug and Roodedraai, be bought for this purpose. On the 9th of January 1819 the Colonial surveyors, Tulleken and Hertzog cartographed the two farms and on the 4th of November, the first official advertisement for the sale of plots was issued. On February 28 1820, the official date of the establishment of Worcester, 89 of the proclaimed 144 plots were sold. Fischer also reported that "this place becomes more important when the new road over the Franschoek Mountains will be completed." The African Rifles Regiment started construction of this road in 1819. A winterstorm in 1822 caused damage to the town of Tulbagh. Captain Charles Trappes recommended to Somerset that the magisterial seat be moved to the new town. Lord Charles Somerset named the new town for his eldest brother, the Marquis of Worcester and by 1840, 132 of the original 144 plots was sold Government Gazette proclamation, November 9, 1822: "In consequence of the damage done to the Public Buildings at Tulbagh, by the storms of last winter, which has rendered it inexpedient to go to the heavy expense necessary to replace them, his excellency the Governor has directed the Drostdy of the district to be removed to Worcester; and it is considered more convenient that the district bear the name of the seat of Magistracy, his excellency is pleased to direct that the district shall henceforth be called Worcester, in lieu of Tulbagh, as heretofore of which, all concerned are to take notice." Captain Charles Trappes was responsible for the planning of the town. A dubious character in some ways, Trappes, however, was far in advance of his time when he laid out the wide streets and town blocks with vision and a high regard for squares. Trappes made the early builders put the houses close to the street and soon these builders would develop their own style of gables. An early visitor, James Backhouse found 1300 people living in the rising town in 1840. According to the 1844 Cape Almanac, William Watson ran one the best hotels in the country and Bishop Gray said in 1845 that the houses were a great distance from each other. Sub division of the original plots dates back to the 1860s when the town experienced its first economic boon. By the 1890s, when there was a downturn in economic fortune the population grew at a considerable rate, as landless people moved to town. Small industry, business and residence still operated within the original boundaries of the town. During the 1890s Worcester's community would also evolve into an uptown section for rich and middle class people and a downtown section for so called poor Whites and Coloured people. Even the Dutch Reformed Congregation would censure European and Coloured people living under desegregated circumstances. The first Black Africans arrived in Worcester at the end of the First World War and were mainly employed as cheap labour for new construction programs springing up around town. By 1936, 1271 Black African people were living in the Worcester district. At the end of thw Second World War , housing in Worcester was at a premium and Worcester had a squatter camp at Parkersdam. It was also during these years that Worcester started to expand with new residential areas and an industrial area. The Apartheid regime responded by total segregation of the different communities. In the Coloured area 1350 sub-economic dwellings and 584 economic dwellings were built in Roodewal and Riverview, in addition, 230 plots were sold in Esselen Park for the erection of dwellings by purchasers. Mostly Indian traders were forced to move their businesses from the declared White areas and resettle in the downtown business district of Durban Street. The Zweletemba township, to the southeast of the town, was awarded 524 sub-economic, 300 economic dwellings and two hostel schemes of 1274 units for single persons. Due to the policy of Apartheid, these people were not considered to be permanent residents and it was only after the abolishment of influx control in 1986 that the township population really exploded. A further 67 sub-economic and 137 economic dwellings were developed in the White Areas and affluent residential areas towards the north of the town. The early years of Apartheid would also see the old town being transformed into a Central Business District. Most of the character and charm of the old buildings was lost as the then government and society replaced these buildings with new administrative and retail buildings, based on American consumerism. Grand Apartheid would leave the community divided and in segregated living areas. Modern Residential Areas
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