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Conference Venues South Africa brings you information on Harrismith situated in the Free State Province of South Africa including information on Facilities and Recreation, Climate, Founding, History Suburbs, Town Planning and Geography

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Information on Harrismith, Free State, South Africa

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About Harrismith, Free State, South Africa

Harrismith, named after Sir Harry Smith, is a large town situated on the N3 highway in the Free State province of South Africa between Johannesburg (about 350 km from Johannesburg) and Durban. This important crossroads in South Africa's land trade routes is surrounded by mesas and buttes and located at base of one of these called Platberg

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Most people only know it as a convenient refuelling stop for trucks, vehicles and people but it does have much more to offer. Located in the foothills of the Drakensberg, it is close to the Northern Berg and the Amphitheatre and Mont-Aux-Sources are easily accessible from here.

The town is also home to the largest truck stop in the Southern Hemisphere, Highway Junction.

Harrismith is the centre of one of the five wool producing districts in Southern Africa.

Two other places in the world bear the same name: Harrismith Beach and Harrismith House near Bottom Bay in Barbados and Harrismith in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.

Harrismith History

The town was founded in 1849 and named after British Governor Harry Smith, who tried to persuade the disillusioned Voortrekkers not to abandon Natal.

The town was initially laid out by Robert Moffat about 25km from the present location, in present day Aberfeldy on the Elands River. This site unfortunately proved to be deficient in water and Harrismith was shifted to its present site in January 1850. Twenty-four years later it became a municipality and during the diamond rush at Kimberley, the town became a busy staging post on the Natal transport route. As a direct result of this, hotels, stores and public buildings sprang up. Harrismith was a major base during the South African (Anglo-Boer) War and visitors can see the numerous battle sites, blockhouses and a military cemetery that are evidence of this.

The town's main street, Warden Street, is named after Major Henry D. Warden, at that time a British resident in Bloemfontein.The town is around 90 kilometers from Ladysmith, a town named after Sir Harry Smith's wife that is located in the KwaZulu-Natal province.The small nearby hamlet of Swinburne is named after Sir Johan Swinburne, a gold prospector.

Towns and Suburbs of the Free State province of South Africa

Bethlehem , Bloemfontein , Clarens , Ficksburg , Fouriesburg , Gariep Dam , Kroonstad , Ladybrand , Harrismith , Parys , Sasolburg , Senekal , Smithfield , Thaba Nchu , Vredefort , Welkom , Wepener

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