Harrismith

Afrikaans name: Harrismith

Harrismith Town Hall

Photo © Steven Herbert

Free State

Harrismith is a town in the Free State that is situated on the junction of the N3 highway that links Durban with Johannesburg and the N5 highway that takes you to Bloemfontein via Bethlehem.

The town was founded in 1849 and the name is derived from British Governor Harry Smith.

Bordering the town is the imposing Platberg mountain which dominates the area. Part of the Platberg is a nature reserve offering hiking trails. Platberg, by the way, means flat mountain. Each year the Platberg Mountain Race is held in this area. The 15 km route gets participants scrambling their way up the mountain, along the flattish top and then down the other side.

The main building in Harrismith is the Town Hall. Sterkfontein Dam is situated near Harrismith.

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Platberg mountain

Photo © Steven Herbert

A monument to the soldiers from the Harrismith who died in the First World War stands next to the town hall.

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

The Pictorial Motoring Atlas of South Africa - Author: Maxwell Leigh - Published: 1987 - Page: 106

Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 72

The Chamberlain Guide to Birding Gauteng - Author: Etienne Marais and Faansie Peacock - Published: 2008 - Page: 342

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa - 4th edition - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 305

On Route - Explore South Africa region by region - 3rd edition - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 2014 - Page: 356

On Route - A region by region guide to South Africa - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 1995 - Page: 243

Getaway - Vol 29 No 01 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 70

Conollys Guide to Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Denis Conolly - Published: 1982 - Page: 338

Book of the Road - 4th edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2019 - Page: 121

Welcome to Harrismith

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