Hartswater is situated in the heart of the Vaalharts Water Scheme – the largest irrigation scheme in the southern hemisphere and second largest in the world. It’s flourishing existence is due to the prosperity of more than 1200 farmers on intensive irrigation farms, each approximately 25 ha in extent, in the Vaalharts Valley – a place of a million trees, green farmlands and numerous water streams. The first erven in Hartswater were surveyed during 1941 by the Department of Lands and were offered for sale in 1946. The town acquired municipal status in 1960.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Kimberley 120 km, Vryburg 100 km

Banks

Absa (ATM), Fnb (ATM’s 2), Nedbank (ATM), Standard (ATM’s 2)

Dams – Taung

HISTORICAL VIEW

In 1873 it was discovered that the Harts River valley lies 140 m lower than the valley of the Vaal River – the two separated only by a high ridge. As water flows downhill naturally, the possibility of establishing an irrigation scheme was immediately realised. Trouble with the tribes in the area delayed any development until 1881, when the feasibility of an irrigation scheme was investigated on instruction of Cecil John Rhodes. A concession was awarded to a private company in 1886, but developments never got off the ground due to a lack of sufficient capital. During the Great Depression (1933) the government, as part of it’s efforts to relieve unemployment, officially approved the development of the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme. The Vaalharts storage dam was built in the Vaal River from which a canal system of over 800 km in length leads water to the Harts River valley. It is interesting to note that all residual water flows back into the Vaal via the Harts River. The first settler in the valley was Francis ‘Matabele’ Thompson, who made his home here in 1874.

ATTRACTIONS

Arts and Crafts

Export Citrus Packaging

Game Farms

Langeberg Co-Operative – Dehydration of vegetables is done here

Senwes Peanut Processing Factory – Baking and packaging of peanuts

Wine Co-Operative – Wine tastings and distribution of local wines

Accommodation in and around Hartswater