Hobhouse, Free State

Province

Hobhouse is a place in South Africa's Free State Province. It is located in the municipality in the district Mantsopa Thabo Mofutsanyane.

Geography

2011 Hobhouse had 3,980 residents, including residents of the northern townships Dipelaneng. The place is located a few kilometers north of the Caledon, which forms the border with Lesotho here. After Wepener in the southwest there are about 32 kilometers away, Ladybrand in the northeast around 50 kilometers.

History

The town was founded in 1912 on the site of the farm Poortjie. He was named after Emily Hobhouse (1860-1926), who had used as a British woman during and after the Second Boer War for Boer women and children. The town received municipal status in 1913.

Economy and Transport

Main industry is agriculture with the cultivation of maize and wheat, and cattle farming and cheese making.

Hobhouse is situated on the R26 between Wepener and Ladybrand. The R709 leads northwestward direction Tweespruit. There are Hobhouse no direct connection to Lesotho.

Personalities

• Colin Eglin (1925-2013), politician, spent several years of his childhood in Hobhouse