Why walk Bathurst Historical Trail?
Initiative celebrates town’s past and supports modern-day businesses
Bathurst offers a glimpse into the past that is almost unique in SA, and especially the Eastern Cape. About 10 surviving buildings in the village date back to its establishment just over 200 years ago. Famously, these include the legendary Historic Pig and Whistle Inn, said to be the oldest continuously operating pub in the country, and Bathurst Primary School, which has a good claim to be the oldest surviving school in the country.
Another landmark is the powder magazine, a reminder of the succession of wars and upheavals that have made up frontier country’s turbulent past.
These buildings are made mostly of stone — the wattle-and-daub structures of the same era disappeared long ago.
They have a brooding quality of timelessness, evoking the thousands of people who lived and worked in them and sometimes fought to protect them.
The idea of the historical trail is to show these buildings to visitors and convey some of their history and atmosphere. Historic Bathurst makes a slight profit from the walks and tours, which is channeled into maintenance and upkeep of the landmark.
But the society’s aim is also to rouse interest in the rich past of Bathurst and indeed of the Eastern Cape as a whole.
In the few months that the walks have been offered, scores of holidaymakers from ‘up-country’ and locals alike have enjoyed them and gained an enhanced awareness of this history.
At the same time, the walks offer a great deal more than historic buildings.
Bathurst’s homes are scattered among swathes of rich green indigenous bush, making any walk along its lanes a treat.
Those with botanical knowledge will enjoy identifying the trees, flowers and plants. The historical trail is intended to allow visitors to enjoy all this (and some healthy exercise, walking about 5km).
Along with this, they pick up some of the uniquely atmospheric ‘village vibe’ of Bathurst.
All this also tends to promote tourism and put Bathurst on the map.
This is why businesses like the Pig and Whistle, local restaurants and craftspeople support the trail walks. The aims of Historic Bathurst, the society, blend seamlessly with those of historic Bathurst, the village.
Details of the Bathurst Historical Trails on p10.