Historic Places of Interest
Wellington lies in a picturesque valley originally known as Limiet Valley, regarded by the early Dutch settlers as the border of the settlement at the Cape. During the South African War, several blockhouses were built as an essential part of British military strategy against Dutch forces. Although many have broken down, there is one in Wellington that is still in excellent shape.
Wellington is the centre of the country's dried fruit industry and one of the most important centres for growing grafted vines. The twelve cellars on the Wellington Wine Route include Bovlei, Wamakersvallei, Wellington, Jacaranda, Welvanpas, Cape Wine Cellars and Hildenbrand Wine and Olive Estate, and produce a wide variety of white and red wines.
Wellington is also well known for its educational institutions, among them Huguenot College and Boland College. Noteworthy buildings include the Dutch Reformed Church (1840), and the various buildings of the old Huguenot Seminary. Just north of the town is a blockhouse, built to guard against Boer guerrilla attacks during the South African War, and the railway bridge over the Kromme River, which is a tributary of the Breede River.
Wellington was once famous for its wagon-making industry and became known as Wagenmakersvallei (wagon makers' valley) before it was renamed ...