- Gauteng
- De Deur-Walkerville
- Walkerville
Walkerville, De Deur-Walkerville, Gauteng
- Information
- Commerces & Services (1)
There are several Walkerville’s worldwide, two in Australia, two in the United Kingdom, two in the United States, one in Canada and one right here in South Africa. Our Walkerville is situated approximately 35 km south of Johannesburg.
Walkerville’s closest neighbour is the small town of Kliprivier however Walkerville is within close proximity of many attractions in the surrounding areas of Soweto, Eikenhof and Vereeniging. The town is perfectly situated offering peaceful rural living within an easy distance of a major city.
Walkerville has a few fine examples of historical buildings to admire however it is the bird life that is instantly obvious in this rural area where farming is a way of life for most who reside here. The local gardens abound with indigenous trees and anything from finches to Cape Robins and African hoopoes and even barn owls and African orioles have been sighted here.
A hiker’s paradise, the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, is closeby, just outside Heidelberg. There are hikes that can take anything from a few hours to a few days within these 12 000 hectares.
Walkerville offers various accommodation options within the town and the surrounding area. Choose from Guesthouses, self-catering units and B&B’s, lodges and camping and caravan parks.
Things to do and see
- Field Berry Farm
- Walkerville Farmers Market
- The Art Farm Craft Yard, Eikenhof
- Lindfield Victorian House Museum, 25 km
- Marievale Bird Sanctuary, Nigel
- Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
Climate
Walkerville receives approximately 680 mm of rain annually with most rainfall occurring during the Summer months.
Summer months, November to March will have average temperatures of between 14˚C and 28˚C.
Winter months, May to August will have average temperatures of between 0˚C and 17˚C.
Transport
There are daily domestic and international flights into Johannesburg’s, O R Tambo International Airport, approximately 64 km away via the R59 and Lanseria International Airport approximately 68 km’s away via the R82. Car rental companies are available for easy access around the area.
History
It is unsure as to when the first Europeans arrived in the area but can be safely assumed that it was around the time that gold was being discovered in Johannesburg in 1884.
What there is proof of are the remains of a hut built with the front axle of a wagon, near the dairy Cottage on Woodacres Dairy Farm. It is believed that this was the first white to settle in the Walkerville area, an unknown Voortrekker in the year 1838.
This Voortrekker sold the Hartzenbergfontein property to Hendrik Balthazar Greyling in about 1859. Hendrik Greyling died in 1879 and his wife Anna Margaretha split the farm into undivided portions amongst the nine children and herself. The children and their husbands actually purchased the undivided tenth share and each tenth share forms the basis of the present subdivision of Hartzenbergfontein, Walkerville and its surrounds being on two tenths of the original area. A further two sections are still owned by the descendants of the family, namely the two large Kamffer farms.