Uniondale – Historic Churches and Routes

Uniondale can be explored from different perspectives through its historic buildings, mapped cycling or walking routes, and the landscape of the Uniondale Nature Reserve. If you are looking for a hotel in Uniondale, you can plan your trip around whether you are especially interested in local history, route lengths, or the landscape. Churches from several periods of construction, a former post office, and forts from the Anglo-Boer War offer different historical points of reference in the town.

Churches and Historic Buildings

The Apostolic (Pinkster) Protestant Church was built in 1843 and is counted among Uniondale’s seven National Monuments. The original Dutch Reformed Church was built at the southern entrance to Uniondale in 1866; today, the building is called Voortrekker Saal and is used for community projects. Sophia Gray designed All Saint’s Anglican Church, built in 1876, and is described as South Africa’s first female architect of church buildings.

The classically inspired police station and courthouse building in Uniondale was built in 1891; it stands on Voortrekker Street. The new Dutch Reformed Church on Hood Street is a separate building dating from 1884, not the building erected in 1866 that is now called Voortrekker Saal. Klaas Vaak was Uniondale’s original post office. The Victorian building dates from 1892. Uniondale’s synagogue dates from 1905. As of 2017, it had been restored and was maintained by the Lions Club.

Forts, Routes and Landscape

During the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), five British forts protected Uniondale. As of 2017, four of these forts were still visible. The forts add a wartime dimension to the town’s architectural history.

Two cycling or walking routes for visitors have been mapped in Uniondale. One is 4.9 km long, the other 7.8 km, making the longer route 2.9 km longer. Both pass historic buildings, tea gardens, and restaurants. Ask locally about current maps and whether bicycles are available to rent. The comparison of route lengths gives you a concrete point of reference when estimating the scope of your planned walk.

The Uniondale Nature Reserve is characterised by hilly terrain, green valleys, and winding streams. This adds a landscape perspective to the town’s history, which is more strongly shaped by buildings and historical events. These two perspectives help you distinguish between the themes of your trip planning: historic sites in the townscape or the reserve’s described landscape features.

A Special Place to Visit

Abrie van der Merwe’s private collection of model cars is located in the Blue Yonder Gift Shop on Voortrekker Street, next to Absa Bank. If you plan to visit the collection, please check before your visit whether it is currently open to visitors. Along with the churches, the former post office, and the forts, the collection shows how varied the themes are that you can use to choose Uniondale for your stay.

Discover more destinations: South Cape Dc, Witsand, Groot Brakrivier, De Rust, Die Barakke, Herolds Bay, Riversdale, Plathuis

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