Elgin, Western Cape
Encyclopedia
Elgin, situated in the Overberg
region of South Africa
, is an apple-growing area near Grabouw
and is about 70 km southeast of Cape Town. A group of apple farms called Glen Elgin - owned by the Molteno
family - gave the place its name. Originally named Koffiekraal, it was a place to unhitch oxen from the wagons between Bot River
and Palmiet River
on the Cape Town
to Caledon
road.
The Elgin Valley is internationally known as the place in South Africa “where the apples come from”. The area is one of the more intensively farmed districts of South Africa and produces 60% of the national apple crop.
Today, the town of Grabouw
, in the heart of the Elgin Valley, is the commercial centre for what is the largest single export fruit producing area in Southern Africa. Grabouw was created on the farm Grietjiesgat acquired on 22 November 1856 by Willem Langschmidt, who named the place after Grabau
, the village of his birth in Germany. His wife opened a small trading store and he was the bookkeeper. Later he sold parts of his farm and so began the farming community of Grabouw as it was later spelled. Langschmidt was the father of 23 children, including 3 sets of twins.
, owners of the farm Glen Elgin. The Molteno name is among the foremost pioneers in the Elgin Valley, as is that of the Rawbone Viljoen family.
Oak Valley Estate was established in the Elgin Valley in 1898 by Sir Antonie Viljoen, a medical doctor who graduated from Edinburgh University in Scotland. Sir Antonie was also a Senator in the Cape Parliament and was knighted in 1916 for his efforts to bring together the Boer and the British in the bitter aftermath of the Second Boer War
(1899–1902). Sir Antonie, who signed up as a medical officer with the Boer army during the war, was placed under house arrest on the Oak Valley property for the remainder of the campaign after his capture by the British. His internment on Oak Valley was only granted on condition that he paid for the services of two British soldiers to guard him for the duration of the war!
Antonie Viljoen was a farmer extraordinaire, and amongst his many farming achievements were the establishment of the first commercial deciduous fruit orchards in the Elgin valley. These orchards were the precursor to the development of the apple industry in Elgin, which remains the economic backbone of the valley to this day. Viljoen’s vision was similarly reflected in a decision to plant a substantial area of vineyard for wine grape production. This was followed in 1908 by the commissioning of the first wine cellar in the Elgin valley. Regretfully the cellar was taken out of production in the early 1940s. Up until that time, the Elgin valley was regarded as a low potential agricultural area, but Sir Antonie's vision was to change this perception forever.
In 1966, on Applethwaite farm, Edmond Lombardi created and introduced to the market a 100% apple-juice beverage, free of additives and preservatives, known as Appletiser
. Appletiser is now owned by SAB Miller and is sold across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Over 40 percent of South Africa’s apple production is exported, and the Elgin Valley produces about 60 percent of the total annual apple crop of about 720,000 metric tonnes. Industry and government export estimates can vary slightly. The United Kingdom is the top destination for South African apples, with Netherlands and Malaysia vying for second place. Granny Smith
and Golden Delicious
were the top apple varieties exported in 2007/08. South Africa is said to be the only southern hemisphere county that produces a top quality Golden Delicious apple, a major advantage against competing exporting countries.
Overberg
Overberg is a district in South Africa to the east of Cape Town beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains. It lies along the Cape Province's south coast between the Cape Peninsula and the region known as the Garden Route in the east...
region of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, is an apple-growing area near Grabouw
Grabouw
Grabouw is a mid-sized town located in the Western Cape province of South Africa some 65 km south-east of Cape Town along the N2 highway. It is located over Sir Lowry's Pass from Somerset West in the Elgin Valley, which is sandwiched between the Hottentots-Holland, Kogelberg and Groenland...
and is about 70 km southeast of Cape Town. A group of apple farms called Glen Elgin - owned by the Molteno
The Molteno Brothers
The Molteno Brothers, Edward and Harry Molteno, were sons of Cape Prime Minister John Molteno by his third wife Sobella Maria...
family - gave the place its name. Originally named Koffiekraal, it was a place to unhitch oxen from the wagons between Bot River
Bot River
Bot River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Fischerhaven. Its tributaries include the Swart River. It falls within the Drainage system G.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa...
and Palmiet River
Palmiet River
Palmiet River,is located in the Western Cape province South Africa. The Palmiet River is a typical Western Cape river, experiencing winter rainfall. It has a small catchment area of 500 km2. It has five irrigation and hydro-power dams along its length, and provides water for agricultural and...
on the Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
to Caledon
Caledon, Western Cape
Caledon is a town in the Overberg region in the Western Cape province of South Africa, located about east of Cape Town. it had a population of 10,650. It is located in, and the seat of, the Theewaterskloof Local Municipality....
road.
The Elgin Valley is internationally known as the place in South Africa “where the apples come from”. The area is one of the more intensively farmed districts of South Africa and produces 60% of the national apple crop.
Today, the town of Grabouw
Grabouw
Grabouw is a mid-sized town located in the Western Cape province of South Africa some 65 km south-east of Cape Town along the N2 highway. It is located over Sir Lowry's Pass from Somerset West in the Elgin Valley, which is sandwiched between the Hottentots-Holland, Kogelberg and Groenland...
, in the heart of the Elgin Valley, is the commercial centre for what is the largest single export fruit producing area in Southern Africa. Grabouw was created on the farm Grietjiesgat acquired on 22 November 1856 by Willem Langschmidt, who named the place after Grabau
Grabau
Grabau is a municipality in the district of Stormarn, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
, the village of his birth in Germany. His wife opened a small trading store and he was the bookkeeper. Later he sold parts of his farm and so began the farming community of Grabouw as it was later spelled. Langschmidt was the father of 23 children, including 3 sets of twins.
History of Elgin
The railway station of Elgin was built on land given by the Molteno brothersThe Molteno Brothers
The Molteno Brothers, Edward and Harry Molteno, were sons of Cape Prime Minister John Molteno by his third wife Sobella Maria...
, owners of the farm Glen Elgin. The Molteno name is among the foremost pioneers in the Elgin Valley, as is that of the Rawbone Viljoen family.
Oak Valley Estate was established in the Elgin Valley in 1898 by Sir Antonie Viljoen, a medical doctor who graduated from Edinburgh University in Scotland. Sir Antonie was also a Senator in the Cape Parliament and was knighted in 1916 for his efforts to bring together the Boer and the British in the bitter aftermath of the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
(1899–1902). Sir Antonie, who signed up as a medical officer with the Boer army during the war, was placed under house arrest on the Oak Valley property for the remainder of the campaign after his capture by the British. His internment on Oak Valley was only granted on condition that he paid for the services of two British soldiers to guard him for the duration of the war!
Antonie Viljoen was a farmer extraordinaire, and amongst his many farming achievements were the establishment of the first commercial deciduous fruit orchards in the Elgin valley. These orchards were the precursor to the development of the apple industry in Elgin, which remains the economic backbone of the valley to this day. Viljoen’s vision was similarly reflected in a decision to plant a substantial area of vineyard for wine grape production. This was followed in 1908 by the commissioning of the first wine cellar in the Elgin valley. Regretfully the cellar was taken out of production in the early 1940s. Up until that time, the Elgin valley was regarded as a low potential agricultural area, but Sir Antonie's vision was to change this perception forever.
In 1966, on Applethwaite farm, Edmond Lombardi created and introduced to the market a 100% apple-juice beverage, free of additives and preservatives, known as Appletiser
Appletiser
Appletiser is a sparkling soft drink originating in East Anglia, the brand is owned by SAB Miller. Appletiser’s head office is in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is manufactured and distributed by Coca-Cola in other places like the UK.-History:...
. Appletiser is now owned by SAB Miller and is sold across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Deciduous fruit
Today the Elgin valley is renowned for its apples and pears, its greenhouse cut flowers, its rose growing, and, increasingly, for the production of high quality cool climate wines.Over 40 percent of South Africa’s apple production is exported, and the Elgin Valley produces about 60 percent of the total annual apple crop of about 720,000 metric tonnes. Industry and government export estimates can vary slightly. The United Kingdom is the top destination for South African apples, with Netherlands and Malaysia vying for second place. Granny Smith
Granny Smith
The Granny Ramsey Smith green apple is a tip-bearing apple cultivar, which originated in Australia in 1868. It is named after Maria Ann Smith, who propagated the cultivar from a chance seedling. The tree is thought to be a hybrid of Malus sylvestris, the European Wild Apple, with the domestic...
and Golden Delicious
Golden Delicious
The Golden Delicious is a cultivar of apple with a yellow color. It is not closely related to the Red Delicious apple.- Appearance and flavor :...
were the top apple varieties exported in 2007/08. South Africa is said to be the only southern hemisphere county that produces a top quality Golden Delicious apple, a major advantage against competing exporting countries.