The Post Tree and the railway at Hermon

Hermon, in the south-east corner of the valley, was founded in 1873 when the railway line arrived. It thrived for a while, then stagnated once the line was extended further into the valley.

For years the railway was how mail reached the Riebeek Valley. Letters came by train from Cape Town to Hermon station. The Hermon postmaster then left the post for valley residents under a large wild olive tree on the road towards Riebeek, and blew a horn to alert the postmaster of Riebeek West, who collected it and sorted it.

That tree, an olienhout estimated to be more than 300 years old, still stands on the R46 between Riebeek Kasteel and Hermon, on the right as you drive towards Hermon.

It is one of the off-track stops on the village heritage walk. Stop for a moment next time you drive past.