Muldersdrift

Muldersdrift, in the Gauteng Province of South Africa, is a picturesque rural area situated 27 km north-west of the CBD of Johannesburg, between Johannesburg and the Magaliesberg mountain range.[2][3] The area falls under the West Rand District Municipality, and is part of Mogale City.

Muldersdrift
Muldersdrift is home to a large hospitality industry
Muldersdrift
Muldersdrift
Coordinates: 26.033°S 27.85°E / -26.033; 27.85
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
DistrictWest Rand
MunicipalityMogale City
Main PlaceKrugersdorp
Area
 • Total4.66 km2 (1.80 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total1,744
 • Density370/km2 (970/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African89.9%
 • Coloured0.9%
 • Indian/Asian0.2%
 • White9.1%
First languages (2011)
 • Tswana19.2%
 • Zulu15.1%
 • Sotho10.1%
 • English8.4%
 • Other47.1%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1747
PO box
1739
Area code011

Located in the Kromdraai Valley and on the Crocodile River, Muldersdrift forms part of the Crocodile Ramble,[4] a scenic tourist route generally regarded as the most popular of all the craft routes around South Africa.[5] Muldersdrift is the gateway to the West Rand, and forms part of Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.[6]

History

Muldersdrift is found on a drift, a ford offering a safe crossing point of the Crocodile River.[7] The river crossing point was on an old wagon route that lead from Pretoria in the north-east to Potchefstroom in the south-west.[7] The area was said to have been settled in 1840s as farmland and the area acquired its name in 1866 after the Mulder family when they camped close to the river when they were unable to across the drift due to flooding.[7] The spot would soon become an outspan (resting spot) site for horse and oxen on the wagon route and would attract a postmaster long before the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand.[8]:4

Places of interest

With its wealth of tourism establishments and more than 40 wedding venues and conference centres, Muldersdrift is known for its fine accommodation, restaurants, spas and health resorts. It is often referred to as the “wedding capital” of Gauteng.[9][10] Home to numerous small farms, smallholdings and nurseries, the area has acquired a reputation for being an arts and cultural hub with a number of home craft industries with a number of potters, artists, brewers, and astronomers based in the area.[11][12]

The Wonder Cave near Muldersdrift is one of the show caves of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. It is the third largest cave in South Africa[13] and one of the world’s richest hominid fossil sites.[14]

Muldersdrift is also home to Gilroy’s Brewery.[15]

Situated in Muldersdrift is Gauteng’s newest casino. The Silverstar Casino and Entertainment Centre contains a variety of restaurants, retail shops, conference facilities, a spa, and a 34-room hotel.[16][17]

Opened in October 2013, the 75,000 square metres (807,293 square feet) Cradlestone Mall is named after its proximity to the Cradle of Humankind.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Sub Place Muldersdrift". Census 2011.
  2. "West Rand, Gauteng - Deal Direct, Pay Less". Wheretostay.co.za. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Crocodile Ramble, Crocodile River, Cradle of Humankind". The Ramble. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  5. "The Crocodile Ramble, South Africa". Encounter.co.za. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Fourie, Chantelle (16 January 2017). "History of 150-year-old Drift, in a nutshell". Roodepoort Northsider (published 11 October 2016).
  8. Leyds, Gerald Anton (1964). A History of Johannesburg: The Early Years. Nasional Boekhandel. p. 318.
  9. "I Love Muldersdrift because". Blog.sa-venues.com. 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  10. "Muldersdrift – Gauteng Tourism Authority". Gauteng.net. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  11. "Muldersdrift, West Rand - Deal Direct, Pay Less". Wheretostay.co.za. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Muldersdrift". Sa-venues.com. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  14. "Wonder Cave, Cradle of Humankind, Kromdraai – Gauteng Tourism Authority". Gauteng.net. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  15. "Gilroy Brewery – Gauteng Tourism Authority". Gauteng.net. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  16. "Southern Sun Silverstar Hotel | Muldersdrift Johannesburg". Tsogosunhotels.com. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  17. "Silverstar Casino And Entertainment | About Us". Silverstarcasino.co.za. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  18. "Welcome to Cradlestone Mall". Cradlestonemall.co.za. 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
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