Information on Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Aliwal North has two hot mineral springs, both of which have extremely high concentrations of gases and minerals.

Sir Harry Smith was the Governor of the Cape Colony. He founded the small town of Aliwal North in 1850. It was named in memory of his victory during the First Sikh War in India, in the Battle of Aliwal in 1846. The park in the centre of Aliwal North was named Juana Square Gardens after Smith's wife.

Pieter Jacobus de Wet built a house at nearby Buffelsvlei in about 1828. The Frere Bridge was opened in 1880 and later replaced with the General Hertzog Bridge. The town was laid out in 1849 on ground acquired by the government. This was auctioned, and 38 lots were sold for £972.