A Brief History of De Rust

Some Key Dates

Many of the Historical Facts relating to the Village of De Rust & District are difficult to find and we will be adding to the details on this page as other additional information is received: 

1764: Weiregte (Grazing Rights) granted to Carolus Minnie in Reitvallei

1786: Weiregte(Grazing Rights) granted to Stephanus Bekker in Oude Muragie and de Cango

1809: Seven farms including Hazenjacht, Schoongesicht, De Rust and Rietvlei including ownership by Marthinus Bekker

1812: Mnr Gaaf le Roux purchased Oude Muragie for the sum of 52 Pounds

1832: Petrus Johannes Meiring in Meiringspoort plus Joseph Anthony at the Ou Watermeul

1855 – 1857: Gravel road constructed to Oudtshoorn (tarred in 1972)

1876: Petrus Johannes Meiring dies – Marthinus Bekker’s widow sues estate

1899:

• On 8 February, 1899  the farm De Rust consisting of the Main Farm House, Die Smidtswinkel (Blacksmith) Shop and Die Ou Meul (50 bags per day)was sold on auction to Messers J J Schoeman and S D P le Roux
• April 1899 permission was granted for the Church as well as for 100 erven with water rights (leiwater) and 200 erven with no water rights
• Auction on 19 April of erven: Prices varied between 40 and 85 Pounds – 24 erven around the Church “geen handel in wyn of sterken drunken gedreven, ook geen publiek vermaaklikheid zonder toestemming van die Kerkraad."     
• 30 April: There was opposition from Messers M Meiring and P W Vos 

1912: 80 Houses already built in the Village

1965: Piped water in De Rust at a cost of installation of R 52 000

1971: Electricity becomes available

1974: De Rust Municipal Valuation on 160 houses R 950 890 

1980/82: Schoeman Family transferred portion of land to establish Blomnek in exchange for portion of land at Ou Lokasie  

Note: This information supplied to De Rust Heritage Conservation Association. In the event you have additional /other relevant information or corrections please let us have this to either add/amend the site. 

July, 2018