What happens to visitors’ books once they are full?
Are these accurate records of people’s movements simply discarded and forgotten?
At Wagenaarskraal, in the Great Karoo, the record of visitors is literally carved in stone and fixed forever. This sheep farm, which belonged to John McRobert, once was post coach staging stop along the original Diamond Way to Kimberley.
John’s wife, Lucy, offered board and lodging to weary travellers and, in order to remember her guests, she created a permanent “visitors’ book”. Lucy asked all who stopped and stayed to climb the koppie behind the house and scratch the date, their names and addresses onto a rock. They did and this became a magnificent record.
A rugged path leads up to the peak of Visitors’ Book Koppie. J N McQuick’s
“seat” can be clearly seen surrounded by bushes at the peak.
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The earliest “entry” dates back to September 5, 1859, when J N McQuirk wrote: "This rock is my chair when I am here” and what a view he and others, who paused to sit there, were afforded. H A Walter engraved a 16-line poem. Sprinkled about are rocks bearing the names of Karoo men who went to war, but, in case they got killed, wanted to remain part of their homeland. There are also names of soldiers, sailors and airmen, who came to the Karoo seeking peace, after the world wars.
The hill, known as Visitors’ Book Koppie, fascinates tourists. Below it are the ruins of St Albans, often visited by Olive Schreiner, and mentioned in her writings. And the remains of an old post office once an important milestone along the post coach route.
ABOUT THE BLOGGER
Rose Willis, pictures above, doyenne storyteller of the
Karoo, is blogging for us, and of course for you. Rose is well known for her regular Rosies Round-Up newlsetter which was printed and posted in the old-fashioned way to many thousands of avid readers overs the years. Anecdotes, tales, legends, heroes and villians all formed part of Rosie’s writings. You can now keep up to date with Rose's regular Karoo snippets right here at the Portfolio Travel Blog each month.
Stay in the Karoo
Portfolio Collection offers a selection of Great Karoo and Klein Karoo accommodation at B&Bs, Farm Stays, Guest Houses and Boutique Hotels. A visit to this unique part of the country is ideal for hiking, photography, star gazing, game viewing and quad biking.
