Establishing the Town
The known history of Porterville began in 1820 when British settlers descended upon the promising land of the Western Cape.
One such settler, Frederick John Owen, is accredited the honour of establishing the town of Porterville in 1863. Owen, an industrious individual, subdivided his farm, called Pomona, into parcels, which would later become the blueprint for present-day Porterville.
Porterville was subsequently named after the Attorney General of the Cape Colony, William Porter, who occupied his illustrious post from 1839 to 1866.
The town’s namesake was a man of integrity and detested the discrimination which he witnessed unfolding in the Cape Colony. Not simply satisfied with bearing moral indignation for the oppression that occurred around him, Porter earnestly championed racially and class equality. His post as Attorney General ushered liberal principles into the mainstream of the then conservative region.
Porter’s courageous endeavours influenced the South African constitution of which is one of the first drafters, which today proudly promotes racial equality and made way for many local trailblazers such as John Molteno, Saul Solomon and John Fairbairn to promote their liberal beliefs.
Yesteryear’s impact can still be seen today in the town’s diverse residents, restored Victorian houses, streets lined with trees and general hospitality.
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