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Colonel John Graham established Grahamstown in
1812. His brief was to survey the frontier and
establish a series of forts along the Fish River,
the newly proclaimed Cape Colony border with Xhosa
territories.
It was the first town to be established by the
British in South Africa, its location being
primarily chosen for the perceived abundance of
water. It remained a military garrison and was the
site of the famous 1819 attack by Nxele (Makana) in
his attempt to halt the European incursion into
Xhosa territory.
A bitter battle, described as the most
significant in South African history, ensued in
which the amaXhosa were finally forced to withdraw
after the timely arrival of a group of Khoi-Khoi
hunters under the leadership of Jan Boesak.
Today the battle area is known by the local
people as Egazini, meaning the "Place of Blood". A
monument to the Xhosa warriors who died defending
their homeland has been erected and specialist
guides are at hand to lead tours of the battlefield.
As a result of this battle it was decided to
settle 4,000 Britons in the area to consolidate
British occupation of the territory. Their influence
on subsequent South African history was far reaching
and way out of proportion to their limited numbers
compared to the local inhabitants.
After the arrival of the white settlers,
Grahamstown grew rapidly to become the second
largest town in South Africa after Cape Town. As
military activity moved further east and north,
education took over as its main infrastructure.
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Now no longer the scene of conflict and
strife, Frontier Country remains
spectacularly beautiful. In its natural
state, it is one of the most diverse regions
on earth. Much of the pristine indigenous
flora and fauna is still very accessible,
making for breath-taking views, experiences
and memories.
 Frontier Country is also a meeting place
for four major weather systems, which share
a common boundary, hence the incredibly
diverse environment. A trip through Frontier
Country exposes the traveler to spectacular
mountain ranges, valleys, lush forests,
scrub bush and some of the most spectacular
and unspoiled beaches our country has to
offer.
Today Grahamstown has more than 70
National Heritage sites. One of these is the
highest church spire in the country,
designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott
(1811-1878), the architect of many famous
buildings of the Victorian era, including
the Albert Memorial in London's Kensington
Gardens and St Pancras Station in London.
Grahamstown remains an important
educational and cultural centre today, with
easy access to game reserves and the
unspoilt beaches of the Sunshine Coast. The
surrounding area is farmed, largely for
chicory, pineapples, ostriches, sheep and
game. The city is also an important legal
centre.
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