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Rock Engravings
Located on the farm of Bosworth and now preserved as a National Monument
Beautifully Engraved Charging White Rhinoceros
Location: located northwest of Klerksdorp, North West Province, South Africa. Travel northwest out of Klerksdorp, direction Ventersdorp for 2km on the R30. Turn right on the Buffeldoorn Road and follow this for 20km. Turn right at the Bosworth Stud sign and go to the Farmhouse where the orfords will direct you to the site. Contact the orfords, Po Box 131, Klerksdorp, 2570, Tel & Fax: 018 468 7527. Email: Bosworth@gds.co.za What is there to see? A large rock engraving site with over 400 Bushman and Khoe herder rock engravings. The site is notable for the many depictions of human figures. Look out for the charging rhinoceros, the large elephant, the man and ostrich dancing, the flight of birds and the many geometric motifs. Bosworth also has many stone artifacts dating from over 1 million years ago. Please leave everything as you find it. Additional information: Let the Orfords know you are coming well in advance. A visitor's fee is levied for a guided tour. Bosworth is one of South Africa's 12 rock art National Monuments. Klerksdorp has most facilities.
Goudkoppie
Also situated on the N12 Treasure Route this National Heritage Site is over 2000 million years old. Goudkoppie prominently features and old ammunition container, which was used by soldiers in the Second World War of Independence. Replicas of Tswana Huts Ca 1750-1820 can also be viewed at this fascinating site. The NG Mother Church (1898), Nederduitch Hervormde Church and Museum (1866) are beautiful and interesting tourist attractions. The old cemetery houses 968 graves of British soldiers and their families who died in the Klerksdorp Concentration Camp during the Anglo Boer War
The Klerksdorp Museum
Is housed in the Old Prison. The original prison was built of raw clay-bricks and the doors were seldom locked. The only "safety precaution" was a furrow a few centimeters deep around the building which was probably only able to keep the most "honest swindlers" inside. Due to the absence of a hospital in Klerksdorp, patients were sometimes sent to this prison for "treatment" during the 1880's. Following the discovery of gold, scores of fortune hunters flocked to the new gold fields during 1887/1888, and it soon became necessary to construct an affective prison, and tenders for the building of a prison were requested in the Government Gazette of 6 January 1890. S. Wierda, a Dutch immigrant and also the State Architect of the ZAR designed the buildings. The sandstone building was completed in 1891, as can still be seen above the main entrance. During the Second War of Independence (1889-1902), when Klerksdorp was alternately occupied by the British and Boer forces, the building was also used for detention of prisoners of war. It was used as a prison until May 1973. No execution took place in this goal, but occasionally prisoners where murdered by fellow prisoners. During 1975, the Town Council appointed the first museum staff and work towards the realization of the museum started in earnest. On 26 January 1977, the museum opened its doors to the public. Beautiful wrought iron gates were installed in front of the museum. These had been used in front of the Klerksdorp Stock Exchange building since 1889. The building was demolished many years ago. To the left of the main entrance to the museum is an iron hitching post to which horses were tied in bygone days. This particular one was originally used at the Old Cemetery. Because the museum building was originally erected as a prison and used as such for many years, some rooms were reserved for goal exhibitions. All other exhibitions in the museum deal with social history or physical science and bear in reference to the prison.
Second War of Independence
(1899-1902) This exhibition has three subdivisions. The first part shows some articles actually used by soldiers during the war. Then follows a collection of souvenirs made by Boer prisoners of war. The tent is a representation of one used by the Boer delegates who gathered on the banks of the Skoonspruit to discuss peace proposals before leaving for Pretoria and finally Vereeninging. The chairs are those actually used on the occasion.
The Railway Station And Old Flag Room
Opened by President Paul Kruger when the line from Krugersdorp reached the town in 1897, Klerksdorp's first National Monument An archaeological gem is situated on Bosworth Farm where rock engravings that date back to as far as 1884.

University, Administration Building and Selbourne Hall
Both the administration buildings, which was the first building of the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture to be erected and which was occupied in 1907, and the Selbourne Hall in which the Afrikaner Cattle Breeder Society was established in 1912, are closely associated with the history of agriculture in South Africa.
Goetz-Fleischack House
This restored homestead was erected for AM Goetz, resident magistrate of Potchefstroom, between 1860 and 1863. Apart from the restored outbuildings on the property, it is the only Karoo-style house in Potchefstroom that has maintained its original appearance. The house, therefore, forms an important cultural and historical link with the old Potchefstroom.
Historic Gereformeerde Church Building
In 1905 the Theological School of the Gereformeerde Church was transferred from Burgersdorp to Potchefstroom. This complex of four buildings was erected from 1905-1907 to accommodate the Theological School and its subsections, as well as a professor and students. Dr JD du Toit (Totius) occupied the professor's residence for 13 years and several of his volumes of verse originated here. He also worked on the Bible translation and a rhymed version of the Psalms. Furthermore, the University of Potchefstroom and the Hoër Skool Gymnasium developed from the Theological School and its Preparators School respectively.
House of President MW Pretorius
In the course of the second half of the nineteenth century Marthinus Wessel Pretorius played a very important role in the history of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek and the Republic of the Orange Free State After the death of his father, A W J Pretorius, in 1853 he was appointed as commandant-general of Rustenburg and Potchefstroom in his place. In 1857 he was elected as the first President of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. With a view to closer union between the two Boer Republics he also accepted the presidency of the Orange Free State in 1860. Because of this he was obliged to resign as president of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek but in 1864 he was elected President of the Z.A.R. for the second time and he held this office till 1871. Shortly before the outbreak of the First War of Independence in 1881 he became a member of the Triumvirate who were in office during the war. He lived at Potchefstroom for the greater part of his life and had his residence built in 1868. Not before January, 1894, did he sell this house to a certain J.C. Bodenstein. Bronze Plaque 1961
Krugerskraal Homestead and Property (Tygerfontein, District)
During the period 1920-1950, the Reverend JD du Toit (Totius), the well-known Afrikaans theologian lived here at various times, and it is here that he worked on the Afrikaans translation of the Bible and the majority of his rhymed versions of the book of Psalms.
University, Main Building
The main building, designed by the firm LOUW & LOUW, was inaugurated in 1931 and was the first and most important permanent academic building on the campus.
Nederduits Hervormde Church
This fine old church of the Nederduits Hervormde congregation of Potchefstroom, the first Voortrekker congregation in the Transvaal, stands on Church Square opposite the Town Hall in the heart of the town. On 1st November, 1841. Potgieter, together with other Voortrekker, launched an appeal for contributions to a building fund. Early in 1842 the Rev. Daniel Lindley, who had been appointed in the previous years by the Volksraad of the Natalia Republic as minister to the Voortrekkers, visited Potchefstroom and there on 25th March he established the first congregation in the Transvaal. A cruciform church was built, with a loop-holde surrounding wall so that it could, if necessary, serve as a fortification as well. The congregation received its first minister, the Rev. Dirk van der Hoff, only in May, 1853. Under his ministry the church soon became too small for the congregation and in April, 1859, the Church Council decided to build a new church on the same site and in the same form as the old one. On 26th December, 1859, President M W Pretorius and the Rev. van der Hoff laid the foundation stone. The church took six years to build. Slowly the brick walls, 600mm thick, arose on firm foundations of stone. Yellow-wood beams to support the roof and yellow-wood planks for the floors were transported over long distances. The pulpit was made in Pietermaritzburg and brought to Potchefstroom by ox-wagon. At last, on 24th February, 1866, the new church could be inaugurated. In later years several alterations were made to the building. The thatched roof was replaced by iron, Three galleries were built in and the church was provided with a spire. A pipe organ was imported from London in about 1890. It was brought by ox-wagon from Vryburg, then the nearest station, and erected by the organist, J Perold, with the aid of instruction books. During the period of more than a century that the church has been in use, outstanding ministers have preached in it. The long periods of service of some of them is especially noteworthy: The Rev. Dirk van der Hoff (1853-1885); the Rev. C W du Toit (1885 -1918); the Rev. S Vermooten (1918-1926); the Rev. W P J Poen (1926-1938) and, since 1938, the Rev. Job. Dreyer.
Old Magistrate's Court
Initially housing the offices of the magistrate, police, clerical staff and post office, this building's cornerstone was laid on 6 July 1895. Architecturally the building differs from most other buildings of the ZAR era in that its mansard roof shows obvious French Renaissance influence.
Old Powder Magazine
The powder magazine was erected between 1841 and 1863 and is one of the oldest existing buildings in Potchefstroom. This stone building played an important role from the time of its construction, especially during the First War of Independence (1880-1881).
Old Police Station
Built in 1939, the old police station was designed in neo-Georgian style with symmetrical facade, sliding windows and an arched entrance with rustic finish.
Old Post Office
This double-storey red-brick building in neo-Gothic style was constructed in 1909. On either side of the arched entrance is a bay window, of the sliding frame type. The old post office, police station and magistrate’s court form the largest section of the western facade of the Hervormde Church Square.
St Mary's Anglican Church
A visit by the first Bishop of the Orange Free State, Bishop Twells (see also Modderpoort), resident in Bloemfontein in February 1862, led to the establishment of the first Anglican Church in Potchefstroom. It was early in 1865 that Reverend W Richardson arrived to begin work on the first church north of the Vaal River. The foundation stone was laid by President Marthinus Wessel Pretorius on 25 March 1867. After the First War of Independence (1880-1881), a chancel was added in memory of Reverend Richardson and the men who fell in the siege. After the first church was demolished, the present St Mary's was completed in 1891 it was designed by John George CRONE and built by Augustus Falconer. The foundation stone was laid on 25 March 1890. In August, when the walls were almost complete, the chancel arch collapsed, leading to the resignation of CRONE together with some members of the building committee. John William GAISFORD, an architect connected with the church for over 40 years came to the rescue. An opening service was held on 14 June 1891 without a ceiling and without the interior walls being plastered. Both ceiling and walls were completed in 1897. With the arrival of Reverend A Devonshire in 1911 and his motivation, a war memorial plaque was erected in the church after the First World War (1914-1918). The memorial hall was formally opened by HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught, Governor General of the Union of South Africa.
Town Hall
Built to a design of William BLACK and William FAGG of Cape Town, and constructed by George Warren of Potchefstroom under the supervision of WH Coultas, the Clerk of Works, the Town Hall is a double-story structure with a facade divided into two by an imposing 26.52m clock tower. The large copper clock was custom built, and bears the lettering 'Potchefstroom anno 1909, B Eysbouts, Austin Nederlad'. The building was opened on 10 March 1909, with General Smuts as the guest of honour.
Andrew Carnegie Library and Townhouse
The Carnegie Library is a single-storey building just north of the town hall, and was completed in 1911. The building was the work of the architects NT COWIN and EM POWERS. Consideration was given to building the library sympathetically in style with that of the Town Hall as the latter is considered to be the architectural highlight of Potchefstroom. Even the portal is identical to that of the town hall.
Avenue of Oaks
The longest Oak Avenue in Southern Africa, Potchefstroom Oak Avenue of 6.48km comprises Botha, Kock, Kruger, Retief, Van Riebeeck and Tom Streets and Calderbank Avenue. It stretches from the Agricultural Center to the Lakeside Resort. The trees were planted following a decision of the Town Council of Potchefstroom in 1910. A stone becon with a bronze plaque was erected on the corner of Lombard and Kruger Street when the avenue was declared a national monument in 1975. The becon was constructed with stones from the old North Bridge.
OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary
Location: The OPM Prozesky Bird sanctuary lies to the shout of Potchefstroom along the banks of the Mooi River. History: The reserve was established in the 1980's. The disused sewage ponds of the local municipality attracted prolific birdlife and nature lovers and the municipality wanted to establish a sanctuary where all forms of wildlife would be protected. The reserve is a joint project of Birdlife Wesvaal and the Potchefstroom City Council whose land it is. The reserve is named after the well-known ornithologist, Dr OPM Prozesky of the Transvaal Museum who championed the cause of the reserve. Conservation: Prozesky Bird Sanctuary was established to conserve and protect the bio-diversity of the habit. As part of our green heritage, we have a duty towards the environment to preserve and protect it for future generations. At the same time the area should be accessible to all for enjoyment and education. The reserve belongs to the community of Potchefstroom therefore it should be utilized with minimal disturbance. Recreation: Birding is the main activity and the reserve has been developed and maintained to be accessible to birders on foot. The paths are maintained by the Potchefstroom City Council and lead of different birding spots and hides. Bridges enable the visitor to gain access to all parts of the reserve and the hides are strategically placed to give the best views of birdlife. Species: As the area is a wetland, may types of water birds (and waders in summer) can be observed in close quarters. About 200 species have been observed over the years. Interesting birds almost always seen include African Purple Swamphen, Black Crake, Black-winged Stilt and various species of duck. Herons abound, even a goloath Heron pair are residents. In the reed beds different warblers can be heard, weavers are prolific in summer and in the grassveld waxbills, cisticolas, pipits and chats can be seen. Facilities: The reserve is fenced but easily accessible from the main entrance. Visitors can enter the reserve during daylight hours, no permit is needed and no entrance fee is levied. The kiosk, toilets and Hide no 2 are licked after office hours, but keys can be obtained by arrangement. Access by car for persons who walk difficulty can be arranged. NO PICNICS, NO FIRES AND NO SMOKING IN THE RESERVE Education: Birdlife Wesvaal has open days on the first Saturday of the month. Experienced birders guide the novice or newcomer through the reserve. Environmental awareness is also taught by arrangement with local schools and at special occasions like National Bird Week and Birding Big Day. Guided walks are available by arrangement. Scientific Importance: Ringing of birds for scientific research is undertaken on a regular basis by Birdlife Wesvaal and the Zoology students from the North West University.