After the fourth Frontier War of 1812, Colonel John Graham established a military post on an abandoned farm near the southeast cost. In an attempt to stabilize the region, the Cape government enticed 4,500 British families to the farmlands. Many of these 1820 Settlers preferred an urban lie, and Grahamstown became a thriving trading centre, home to the largest concentration of artisans outside Cape Town.

Grahamstown is known for its over 50 churches, university and superb schools. Its major attractions lie within a 500-metre walk from the City Hall in High Street. Some 60 buildings have been declared national monuments, and a host of beautifully restored Georgian and Victorian residences line the street.

Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George is the town’s most prominent landmark – its spine towers 51 metres above the town center. The original St. Georges Church, built in 1824, is the oldest Anglican Church in South Africa, and the massive organ is one of the finest in the country.