History and Heritage
Rosendal’s History
Rosendal—from frontier settlement to ghost town and back again
A Blacksmiths shop, a Post Office, a Bank, a Saloon, a Church and a General Dealer store—these are the first things you see for a settlement in an American cowboy movie and the early history of South Africa’s rural towns was not that different. These functional structures, reflecting the rural commerce and community of the eastern Free State of the early 20th Century, were the first to be built in Rosendal after it was founded in 1908. Today, they are restored and form a small heritage district in this farming town and arts colony.
Back then, Rosendal had formed around the needs of local farmers for commercial services and religious communion that could be easily reached by ox-wagon or horseback. Thus, the early decades of the 20th Century brought into being the town we see now—its tiny business district, and a collection of sandstone homes and brick and plaster cottages, overlooked by a magnificent Dutch Reformed Church.
Like nearly all towns in the Free State, it is approximately 45km from the nearest other settlements, Ficksburg or Senekal, the distance that could be ridden in a day on horseback.
But Rosendal did not fully grow into the settlement it was planned to be. This is responsible for what is now a much remarked upon feature—its distinctive low density character. There are long distances between houses and it is not obvious where the town begins and ends. This is due to Rosendal’s unique history as an unfinished town. When it was founded, a grid pattern of streets were laid out for what was intended to be a sizeable settlement. But, located in an isolated area, up against the Witteberg Mountain range to the east, Rosendal did not fulfil this early promise. Of 577 demarcated stands less than 150 are built upon. If that was at one time a disappointment, or a sign of unfulfilled potential, it is now an asset of considerable value. Homes surrounded by what appear to be open fields create an impression of living in open country side. Even when “full”, the town looks empty.
After brisk growth for its first decades as a town Rosendal by the 1960s entered prolonged commercial decline. The opening of a paved road to Senekal and Ficksburg in 1958 diverted retail spending away to larger towns and with the closure of the Afrikaans language school in 1982, the town had lost its vitality. By then it had acquired the features of a ghost town, with many abandoned or derelict buildings. At one point it is estimated there were less than 20 full time residents. Many of the old sandstone homes and buildings were knocked down or their precious sandstone pilfered at this time, leaving the bare foundations that exist now, here and there, as their only reminder.
This reversed from the mid 1990s when a group of writers, artists and adventurers began to call it home, sparking a creative revival. Rosendal remains at heart a working farming town, where livestock wander and sotho cowboys on horseback herd cattle down the main street. This authenticity accounts for much of the town’s current character and appeal. Rosendal, in this regard, is, if not one of the eastern Free State’s most prominent towns, at least one of the most engaging and pleasant.
We have a fascinating trio of historic tours in Rosendal. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about the rich heritage of this charming town, these tours offer an immersive experience into the past. Each tour takes you through key landmarks, stories, and hidden gems that bring Rosendal’s history to life.
Please click HERE for further details on the tours listed alongside, and plan your adventure into the heart of Rosendal’s captivating history.
Guided Tour of the Rosendal Heritage District
This tour includes access to the main buildings of former downtown
Historic Rosendal – Self-walk
Discover the history of our town at your own pace with our self-guided history tour.
Historic Rosendal – Ghost Walk
Step into the shadows and tragic past of our town with the local ghost tour.
The Rosendal Heritage Association
The purpose of being, according to Carl Jung, is to kindle a light in darkness. And it is in this spirit that The Rosendal Heritage Association came into being in 2022, uniting a group of local volunteers to undertake the painstaking, but rewarding, tasks of heritage conservation, uncovering hidden context and creating narratives through historical research.
Along the way, the origins and trajectory of the very pleasant little Free State town of Rosendal has been illuminated; old sandstone and other historic buildings on the high street have been physically restored, historic blue plaques installed, the streets landscaped, and historic documents repaired. Engaging narratives have been uncovered, telling us how this small, frontier, settlement in an isolated corner of the Eastern Free State, came into being in the early 20th Century and what it went on to become. That includes its very unique 100 plus year arc of development from unfinished boom town to ghost town and back again.
Initially, heritage conservation was done in relative isolation by Rosendal residents. It was only in January 2024, following a visit to Rosendal of the Heritage Association of South Africa chair, Kathy Munro, that we became a member of SAHA. One of only three in the Free State, Rosendal is SAHA’s newest chapter and works in association, with our peer group neighbours, Clarens and Petrus Steyn.
As an explanation of what the Rosendal Heritage Association has been doing, let us outline some of our activities in the last year, and since our founding in 2022.
- A blue plaque programme has been initiated, providing, informative, narrative precis of the history of the main historic buildings in town, including the old Post Office, the former Barclays bank, the first General Dealer Store, the old Blacksmiths, the NGK Church and many others. This is distinct from the South Africa Heritage Association own blue plaque programme. The plaques are meant to illuminate local history and celebrate heritage. The programme is being extended through historical research and will be rolled out for a number of new buildings in 2025.
- The town’s original 1911 survey map was digitally copied. The last known intact copy was, kindly, lent by our local municipal office and a high-resolution copy created. Low resolution copies are downloadable, free, by clicking HERE. High resolution copies by request from WeTransfer.
- Physical restoration of the historic Rosendal Cemetery was initiated, utilising funds from our local town committee, that involves residents of both Rosendal and Mautse.
- Commission and installation of a sotho themed steel sculpture, representing Sotho King Moeshoe and Sotho culture more generally. The sculpture, by artist James Delaney, was blessed by a local Sangoma and Sotho cultural groups, and formally welcomed by our community. The sculpture style closely resembles the iconic, laser cut steel wildlife sculptures now associated with the, restored, The Wilds Park in Lower Houghton Johannesburg.
- A local history museum project is being taken forward.
- Contribution of a Rosendal chapter to the soon to be published book, “Sandstone Buildings of the Eastern Free State” by Otterly Press and Jacqueline Kalley.
All this and more of the allure of Rosendal can be seen by visitors who walk the town, ask questions and engage with locals. The Rosendal Heritage Association is open to anyone who wishes to join and take on the pleasant and rewarding tasks of celebrating local heritage.
To contact us for any reason, call or send a message to:
Douglas Mason + 27 72 824 915 • us@douglasmason.ca
Marna Van den Berg +27 82 493 7711 • unlockpe@yahoo.com
Robin Moorby-Prinsloo +27 84 548 7445 • diedorpshuisies@gmail.com
Rosendal Heritage Properties is dedicated to preserving the unique architectural heritage of our town. For further information visit Rosendalheritageproperties.co.za