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Heritage

Nieu-Bethesda History

People, places and heritage stories from Nieu-Bethesda.

Stories & places

9 listed

The nearby railway station became a target during the South African War.

The church was consecrated in 1905. Earlier services used the Pienaar wagon house.

Helen Martins was born in Nieu-Bethesda in 1897 and transformed her home into the Owl House.

Koos Malgas worked with Helen Martins for twelve years on the sculptures of the Camel Yard.

The church village attained municipal status in 1886.

The village takes its name from the biblical pool of Bethesda, a place of flowing water.

Helen Martins and Koos Malgas turned a family house into the Owl House and the Camel Yard.

Athol Fugard’s play The Road to Mecca made the Owl House widely known.

In 1875 the Graaff-Reinet Dutch Reformed church bought part of the farm Uitkyk for a new village.