Bredasdorp Area Profile

Bredasdorp at a glance

Bredasdorp is the heartbeat of the Western Cape's Southern Overberg region. It has grown into the region's economic and commercial hub, attracting residents of all age groups and professions.

The town is surrounded by indigenous vegetation and farmland and while it may be situated inland, its close proximity to coastal towns makes it a popular choice as both a place to live and to work.

There are fewer than 20,000 people who live in Bredasdorp but the town offers them all the essential services found in a big city. These include a hospital, schools, parks, sports grounds, restaurants, good shopping facilities and recreational areas.

The town is situated a mere 24kms from Arniston, with the bustling "metropolis" of Hermanus a comfortable 91kms afar. Other coastal towns within nearby reach are Struisbaai (33kms), L'Aghulas (38kms) and Gansbaai (62 km). Bredasdorp is situated on the northern perimeter of the Agulhas Plain and is within a 160-kilometre radius of Cape Town.

With its Mediterranean climate, moderated by the nearby coastal town of Arniston, Bredasdorp is a major farming area for wheat, cattle, sheep, canola, milk and the cultivation of indigenous fynbos.

The town was established in 1838 and named after Michiel van Breda who was responsible for the building of a Dutch Reformed Church on the original Langefontein farm. Michiel van Breda was not only the first Mayor of Cape Town but was also regarded as the father of the South African merino sheep industry.

Because of its proximity to various coastal resorts, Bredasdorp's hiking trails attract thousands of tourists to the town every year.

The indigenous fynbos Heuningberg Nature Reserve lies on the south-west side of the town, and other attractions include several historical churches and a number of art galleries with paintings typical of the region.

Bredasdorp is also home to the hand-painted Kapula Candles which are exported to Europe and the United States.

But it is most famous as the home of the only Shipwreck Museum in the southern hemisphere, acting as a magnet for naval enthusiasts. The museum unfolds the stories behind the 150 wrecks that dot the treacherous waters of the Agulhas Reef. It was only after the construction of the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse in 1849 that ship captains could safely navigate the waters around the southernmost tip of Africa.

The town underwent major change in the mid-1980s when the SA Air Force opened the Overberg Test Flight and Development Centre and the Denel Test Range in nearby Arniston.  The influx of new residents to the area saw Bredasdorp's transformation from a quiet town into a busy commercial and residential hub.

Today there are 3,686 freehold homes, 64 sectional title units and 57 freehold estate properties serving the residential needs of the population. With house prices far more affordable than those of its nearby coastal towns and hamlets, Bredasdorp began to thrive as a major residential hub.

Apart from the numerous houses, townhouses, apartments and vacant land on offer, farms, commercial and industrial properties for sale in the area offer loads of investment potential and opportunities.