In noting the history of the Lowveld it is difficult to find an impartial account of the events that lead up to establishment of the region in its present form. Most of the 'historical' resources that are available are strongly inclined towards an Eurocentric perspective. It is important to remember that these 'accounts' were shaped by a range of factors and may be incorrect. This timeline serves as a broad overview of the history of the Lowveld from an Eurocentric perspective. Any input or criticism would be welcomed. We are currently researching a more objective account of the history of the region and would appreciate any contributions. 

• 1723 - First recorded movement of Europeans into the region 

  • The first recorded movement of Europeans into the region occurred on 9 August 1723 when a group of 19 men set out from Fort Legoa (now Maputo). The group was in search of a supposed ‘mountain of iron’ which the natives trading at the outpost rumored to exist further inland. Historians believe that this mountain of iron may have been Ironstone Kop at Malelane. The group were however attacked and killed by local inhabitants before they could reach the mountain.

• 1837 - The Trichardt Trek into the Lowveld

  • The second recorded entry of Europeans into the region was from the interior. Louis Trichardt and his party had set out from the Transvaal Highveld in an attempt to establish a route to Lourenco Marques (Maputo). However Malaria would take its toll on the trekkers and by the time they arrived in Lourenco Marques most of the group had died or were ill. The survivors were eventually taken to Natal by boat. 

• 1843 - Andries Potgieter finds a route into the Lowveld

  • In 1843 Andries Potgieter attempted to find a more southerly route from Pretoria to Lourenco Marques, but the one that his party took turned out to be almost immpossible to negotiate. The trek came to a halt at the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment from which there was no possible route of descent. A scout part was sent out, and consequently discovered an animal track which permitted access to the Lowveld. The scouts were however delayed on their return, and the original group left the area next to the river they had been waiting at, after naming it "Treurrivier" (the river of sorrow). When the scout party managed to catch up with this group on the banks of another river, they named this new river the "Blyderivier" (the river of joy).

• 1845 - The establishment of Ohrigstad

  • Despite the Trichardt trek setback, the Voortrekkers made a gradual progression northward and by 1845 there were enough settlers along the eastern portion of the central Transvaal plateau to indicate the need for some form of locally centralized government. The Republic of Ohrigstad and surrounding country was formed which legalized the founding of “Andires Oriegstad’ (Ohrigstad).

• 1849 - The founding of Lydenburg

  • Malaria fever stuck Ohrigstad and wiped out most of the population. In 1849 the then Volksraad decided to establish Lydenburg, “the Town of Suffering”, in memory of those who died in Ohrigstad. The Republic of Ohrigstad was renamed the Republic of Lydenburg.

• 1867 - First discovery of gold

  • Historians believe that the opening up of the Lowveld can be attributed to this year, when the German explorer and geologist Karl Mauch went on foot from Pretoria to Lydenburg, where he found traces of gold. This discovery lead to the eventual opening up of the Lowveld region to immigrants from all over the world.

• 1869 - Gold discovered near Eersteling

  • Mr. Edward Button discovers gold near Eersteling. This leads to the passing, by the Volksraad, of the first Gold Law No.1 of 1871.

• 1873 - Gold rush to Pilgrim's Rest

  • William Trafford, a miner, working along one of the sources of the Blyde River reported a discovery of gold in the valley which he called “Pilgrim’s Rest”, to which a rush at once took place. This turned out to be one of the most extensive and successful of the alluvial diggings.

• 1881 - Formation of first mining companies in the Lowveld

  • With the granting of mineral concessions in 1881 by the Government of the South African Republic and the formation of mining companies, the working of the many gold-bearing reef horizons outcropping began. Rich areas were worked at Theta, Jubilee, Clewer, Peach Tree, Beta, Brown’s Hill, Chi and in the hills to the south of Sabie,
    some of which would remain well into the 20^th century.

• 1882 - Rush moves down to the southern Lowveld

  • The exhaustion of alluvial gold at Sabie and Pilgrim’s Rest was followed by a rush to the southern region of the Lowveld, which lead to the eventual establishment of the Barberton mining industry.

  • The majority of diggers in the northern area went their ways elsewhere, but a few spread out along the Drakensberg and its spurs, prospecting for new finds. Extensive old alluvial workings were found at Duiwels Kantoor, now Kaapse Hoop, and a rush ensued.
    

• 1884 - Public diggings declared; Railway initiated

  • The Kaap Plateau and the whole of the De Kaap Valley down to the junction of the Kaap River and the Crocodile and up to the Saddleback Peak south of the present town of Barberton and thence to Tafelkop, south-west of the Kaap Plateau was declared a public diggings and open to pegging by Government Notice of 5 November 1884.

  • A contract with the Nederlandsche Zuid Afrikaansche Maatskappy, approved by the Volksraad on 23 August 1884, stipulated for work on the construction of a railway line from the border of Mozambique.

• 1885 - Sir Percy Fitzpatrick starts first journey

• 1892 - Establisment of Nelspruit

• 1894 - Completion of Railway 

• 1896 - Rinderpest destroys all cattle, and the tsetse-fly

  • In 1896 the rinderpest swept through the country killing almost all the cattle. However this would turn out to be a blessing in disguise in that it also rid the country of the tsetse-fly. The link between the disappearance of the rinderpest and the fly is not known. It was only after the the Anglo-Boer War, when cattle first re-entered the Lowveld, that the disappearance of the fly was discovered. 

• 1898 - Proclamation of Government Game Reserve

  • The year of 1898 brought about a legislative measure which would be of great importance to this Region, namely, the proclamation on 26 March 1898 of a Government Game Reserve between the Crocidile River and the Sabie River. The new reserve would serve as the forerunner to the Kruger National Park.

• 1899 - Start of the Anglo-Boer War

  • The Anlgo-Boer War, between the South African Republic and Britain broke out on 11 October 1899. 

• 1913 - Establishment of the Lowveld Farmers Association

  • The Lowveld Farmers Association was established on 23 August 1913. Mr Percy Wilhelm convened this inaugural meeting to create an organisation which in its mandate set out to develop the area centred on the then hamlet of Nelspruit. 

• 1931 - Government initiates project to eradicate Malaria

  • The Government accepted Professor Swellengrebel’s recommendation in toto and, in 1931, established the Tzaneen Malaria Research and Control Station. To head the campaign against the disease they chose Dr. Siegfried Annecke. The campaign began with the establishment of some 600 “malaria depots” at which quinine could be obtained free of charge and from which educational campaigns were conducted. Some 20-million litres of larvacidal oil was sprayed on potential breeding places and more than half a million huts were treated. 

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