Bathurst, Eastern Cape

Bathurst
The Big Pineapple, located on the edge of town
Bathurst Show map of Eastern Cape Bathurst Show map of South Africa Bathurst Show map of Africa  Bathurst shown within Eastern Cape
Coordinates: 33°30′14″S 26°49′26″E / 33.50389°S 26.82389°E / -33.50389; 26.82389Coordinates: 33°30′14″S 26°49′26″E / 33.50389°S 26.82389°E / -33.50389; 26.82389
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Sarah Baartman
Municipality	Ndlambe
Established	1820
Area
• Total	73.5 km2 (28.4 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	6,368
• Density	87/km2 (220/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	90.0%
• Coloured	1.6%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	7.9%
• Other	0.4%
First languages (2011)
• Xhosa	84.4%
• English	9.1%
• Afrikaans	3.8%
• Other	2.7%
Postal code (street)	6166
PO box	6166
Area code	046

Bathurst is about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) inland from Port Alfred, on the R67 road, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Its chief claim to fame is that it was the early administrative centre established by the British Government for the 1820 British Settlers who were sent to the district as a buffer between the Cape Colony and the Xhosa pastoralists who were migrating southwards and westwards along the coast. Bathurst is now part of the Ndlambe Local Municipality in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality of the Eastern Cape.

Many of the original settler houses and other buildings have been preserved, and there remains much of the look and feel of an English village of the early 19th Century. The Pig and Whistle Inn, at the heart of the village, is reputedly the oldest extant pub in the country. Built in 1821 by Thomas Hartley, a blacksmith who came from Nottinghamshire with the Settlers. Later accommodation was added and it became known as the Bathurst Inn. Legend has it that it was nicknamed "The Pig & Whistle" by the men at the nearby 43 Air School in World War II.

While time has moved slowly in Bathurst, there is an increasing population of artists, academics, Rhodes University is only 40 kilometres (25 mi) away, and retirees.

Bathurst hosts a pineapple museum whose building is shaped like a 17 metres (56 ft) tall pineapple.

Bathurst neighbours the Waters Meeting Nature Reserve, home to many species of animals, bird and plants. The reserve offers hiking trails, picnic spots and a remarkable viewpoint of the river and valley. The surrounding area hosts pineapple farms, game reserves and cattle and sheep ranches. It is a 10-minute drive to the beach town of Port Alfred and 45 minutes from the cultural mecca of Grahamstown.

The Horseshoe Bend and Water's Meeting Reserve: There is an outstanding view of bush covered valleys where the Kowie River loops in a horse shoe. Another 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) down a steep winding road you can picnic and relax under the trees at the waters edge. Canoe trails and scenic hikes available.