Malmesbury is the hub of the Swartland and inhabitants or visitors have easy access to a myriad of activities from which to choose at different times of the year, including wine routes, wild flower shows and viewing, art, hunting and historic cultural excursions.

Malmesbury is 65kms north east of Cape Town; about 40 minutes drive away via the easily accessed N7and about 30 minutes away from Melkbosstrand, the nearest beach. The Swartland includes the towns of Darling, Yzerforntein, Moorreesburg, Koringberg, Riebeek West and Riebeek Kasteel.

The town has good schools, and a Technikon. Major retail outlets have branches in the town and all major banks are represented, yet the town retains it rural atmosphere. It is an ideal town to bring up children, embark on your own new entrepreneurial venture or retire from the hectic pace of a major city and get some pleasure out of living.

Jan Wintervogel undertook the first expedition in the direction of present day Malmesbury in 1655. The area soon became known as “Het Zwartland” (the Black Land) referring to the characteristic dark colour of the indigenous rhinoceros bushes that appear black at certain times of the year. Several Europeans eventually settled near a spring and this resulted in the establishment of “Het Zwartlandskerk” in 1745 to serve the agricultural community. By 1795 the area was known as the wheat store of the colony

In 1829, Governor Sir Lowry Cole officially proclaimed “Het van Swartlandkerk” as a town and renamed it Malmesbury in honour of his father-in-law, Sir Edward James Harris, Earl of Malmesbury, England.

In 1838 Malmesbury was proclaimed a magisterial district to facilitate the emancipation of slaves. Captain John Montgomery Hill was the first resident magistrate. Dr R H Rozenzweig became the first mayor of Malmesbury in 1895.

The tranquil town of Malmesbury is a staging post from where one can explore all the Swartland has to offer:

• Shops, banks and other services
• Medical and related practitioners
• 4 X 4 trails in the Paardeberg
• Mountain bike trails
• Malmesbury Museum
• Historic Walk About Route
• Swartland Heritage Foundation
• Wine and Olive Routes
• Cape Field Sports
• Athletics Club
• Mount Royal Golf Course
• Music Over the Lands Festival in August
• Rotary Cycle Race in March
• West Coast flowers in spring
• Water sports and whale watching in Yzerfontein