Steytlerville: Churches, History and Landscape

Steytlerville can be explored from several angles: through its churches and memorial sites, local mosaic crafts and the surrounding landscape. If you’re looking for a hotel in Steytlerville, consider whether architectural history, remembrance or outdoor activities should be the focus of your stay.

Churches and Architectural History

The Dutch Reformed Church is considered the largest church in the Edwardian style in southern Africa and has 1,200 seats. It also has an organ with 1,046 pipes. St Paul’s Anglican Church was consecrated by Bishop Charles Cornish on 4 July 1900. The Methodist Church was built in 1886 and took five years to complete. The dates therefore mark different milestones: St Paul’s refers to a consecration, while the Methodist Church’s dates refer to its year of construction and building period.

Memorial Sites and Local History

The Steytlerville War Memorial stands at the intersection of Middelton Street and Piet Retief Street. The War Monument in Steytlerville was erected in 1925 and commemorates residents who died in the First and Second World Wars. These details link a specific landmark on the streetscape with a memorial site whose history spans both world wars.

The grave of James Kobe Madlaila is said to be the only grave outside Steytlerville’s town cemetery. Madlaila was a constable and Xhosa interpreter on the staff of the Resident Magistrate of Steytlerville. In the wider region, he was shot dead by Schemers’ commando at Rooiklip on 6 August 1901. The grave and the place where he was shot therefore refer to different geographical locations: the grave is associated with Steytlerville, while the shooting took place at Rooiklip.

Flags and Local Crafts

Since 2003, flags along the main road have displayed the family crests of all the town’s communities. If you’re planning to see these flags, check before your visit whether they are still on display. The Valley Of The Flags is part of the R329; the flags there have been South Africa’s national flags at various times. For this landmark, too, it’s worth checking its current status beforehand if you want to include the flags in your plans.

The Steytlerville Crafters are a group of local women who make mosaic items such as crosses, hearts, vases and bowls. The Steytlerville Motor Museum is located behind the Verandah Coffee Shop. Alongside churches and memorial sites, local crafts and a specific landmark for the museum are therefore also things to consider during your stay.

Rock Formations and Gravel Bike Routes

Steytlerville has numerous distinctive rock formations. They formed millions of years ago, when the Karoo lay beneath the Algoa Sea. The reference to the former sea places the rocks in a geological context and adds their origins to the picture of today’s landscape.

The area around Steytlerville offers several gravel bike routes through the landscape. This gives you different options to consider when planning your trip: buildings and memorial sites in town, as well as cycling routes in the wider area. If you’d rather explore the landscape by bike than through its geological history, the gravel bike routes offer a separate starting point for planning.

Discover more destinations: Kromriver, Seafield, Witelsbos, Riebeek East, Kou-Kamma, Kleinpoort, Kenton-On-Sea, Clarkson.

For the regional travel overview: Cacadu.