Richmond is a town in the central Karoo region of the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. It is situated on the main N1 route. The Karoo is a region of South Africa that typically includes the country’s interior plateau regions and surrounding areas. It was created to meet the religious needs of a farming community, but unlike many Karoo towns, the church was not built as its focal point.
Unusual for this drier region, the town square is actually built on top of a river. This waterway is cited as the reason for the unusual street design.
In a town that is full of Victorian and Edwardian-style homes, there are also plenty of design features from the 1920s. The houses typically have verandahs that date back to the same period.
The Dutch Reformed Church building dates from 1847 and is almost in the centre of town. It celebrated its centenary in 2009 when it was completed with a tower.
The naming of the town started with a desire to honour Governor Sir Peregrine Maitland.
Given that the council wanted to name the theatre after Maitland’s father-in-law, Duke Aphrodite of Richmond, he declined their invitation.
