| Pacaltsdorp | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Western Cape#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -34.0167°N 49°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Western Cape |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Garden Route |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | George |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 10.19 |
| Population Total: | 16400 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 4.7% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 93.3% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.6% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 0.7% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.7% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 92.2% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | English |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 4.4% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | Xhosa |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 1.7% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 1.7% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 6529 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 6534 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 044 |
Pacaltsdorp is a suburb of George, Western Cape. In the Apartheid era, it was the coloured township associated with George but administrated independently. The N2 highway provided the natural boundary between the two, enforced by a curfew.
The mission station Hoogekraal was named Pacaltsdorp after the death of the German-speaking missionary of Czech origin, the Reverend Charles Pacalt in 1818. He was invited by Kaptein Dikkop, leader of a Khoikhoi tribe living in the area. He built up a congregation of about 300 Khoekhoen, slaves and free labourers.
A number of historic buildings are preserved - The Stone Church - a Norman-style church, originally built from stone, yellowwood, glass and clay. Rev Pacalt's second mission cottage was constructed in approximately 1813. Consisting of sod walls, a thatch roof and cow-dung floor, it was declared a national monument in 1976. William Anderson built the first manse, a two-storied building with thick stone walls and abundant yellowwood, it was also declared a national monument in 1976.
"The Tree Of Meeting" is a 300-year-old tree, to be found opposite the Pacaltsdorp Post Office, in Missionstreet. The stone building nearby was originally home to some of the first missionaries. There was no church building yet and church services were conducted under this big Essenwood tree.
Prior to 1994 much of Pacaltsdorp was Common land that bordered the Gwaing River and stretched down to the sea, was used for farming. However, in 2005 two large developments, the Oubaai Golf Estate and Le Grande Golf Estate have taken the best of this Common land and all the sea frontage for upmarket development.[2] [3]
Pacaltsdorp community mostly follow the Christian faith; which coincide with its missionary history. Sports activities such as rugby (Pacaltsdorp Evergreens – est. 1932), cricket (Pacaltsdorp Cricket Club), netball (Pacaltsdorp Netball Club) and others are popular within the community.