Welcome to Zastron

Since 1882

The scenery is dominated by beautiful mountains and the town itself lies at the foot of Aasvoëlberg (vulture hill), named such because it is home to the only Cape Vulture colony in the Free State. Zastron is also where you can see the Eye of Zastron, a nine metre wide hole that gapes in a sandstone ridge overlooking town.

ABOUT ZASTRON

Zastron used to be the home of many Bushmen who lived in the surrounding sandstone caves. Their legacy lives on in their rock paintings on the surrounding farms. Today it is an active agricultural town and with the breathtaking landscape, creased with mountains, this is definitely a place not to be missed. There are endless ways for the outdoorsman to be entertained here.

The open hearted community will welcome any visitor with lovely places to stay and excellent food at local guesthouses, restaurants and take-aways. Take time to relax and meet the local people for a drink at one of the bars. The annual cultural festival, “die Gatfees” takes places every October and is an absolute must for anyone who wants to experience Zastron at its very best.

WHAT TO DO

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WHERE TO STAY

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WHERE TO EAT

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ZASTRON HISTORY

Zastron’s Old Buildings And Their Place In The Development Of The Town My purpose with this work is to preserve, by way of photos and stories by elderly inhabitants, the history of Zastron’s old (and not so old), buildings. Old buildings are, today, summarily demolished to make way for, sometimes, unsightly new ones. In this way a whole community’s history disappears with them.

Too many of Zastron’s old buildings have already disappeared without any photos of them being taken. Wherever an old photo of a building was available, I have endeavoured to place it as well as one of how it looks today. What I am infinitely thankful for is the aerial photo of the old Rowan Hostel and right wing of the High School Zastron just before these were demolished. The photo of Zastron’s oldest house I managed to take during a snowfall in Zastron.

I have tried to make this work as complete as possible, but there are still many buildings, particularly private dwellings, of which nothing is known. I have also endeavoured to make use of both languages. This was, however not always possible due to lack of space.

If one just goes to sit and think – who lived in these buildings? – Who are the builders? – the tears and laughter that flowed in them – if they could only speak. I trust that this work will serve as an inspiration to others to build on it and preserve the history of our town. Remember, the past is important, it may not disappear – is it not a fact that we owe a FUTURE to PAST?

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Important Numbers

Police

051 673 9700

Municipality

051 673 9600

Hospital

051 673 1211

Centlec

086 007 6937

Ambulance

10177 /
051 407 6000

Eskom

051 673 1003

Traffic

051 673 1155