History

Bredasdorp in 1963

The Birth of Agri View

The town of Bredasdorp forms part of the Cape Agulhas Region of the Overberg.It is considered to be the heart of the wheat and wool industry of this region and was the first town in South Africa to have “dorp” as part of it’s name.

It is important to note that some of the first indigenous people who stayed in the Cape Agulhas Region were the San and the Khoi, who were excellent farmers for their time. One can still see the fish middens used by the San and traces of livestock camps that were used by the Khoi, today. In 1673 the first shipwreck,The Zoetendal, was recorded and this is also the name of the farm where the Merino Sheep originated from. Michiel van Breda, a leading member of this community and the first mayor of Cape Town, was responsible for the introduction of the sheep to this area.The original Wool Route was established in 1983 by Hercules Wessels, at the time of the growth of tourism in the Cape Agulhas region.

The community accepted the Wool Route project as their own, and contributed to its growth, collecting articles for display and helping to raise funds. The Shipwreck Museum played a big part in the history of the Wool Route, and it had the ongoing support of the Friends of the Museum.

Hercules Wessels, served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for more than 20 years and the museum was made the focus of all festivals and events for the town. This is where the original Wool Route started, and from there visited wool farms in the area, with the focus on our region’s wonderful hospitality.The Route was enjoyed as a great day out by both tourists and locals.