3.4 THE TOWN OF HANKEY

Hankey is the oldest town in the Kouga Region and originated as a station for the London Missionary Society. It was named after the treasurer of the London Missionary Society at the time (1822), William Allers Hankey and is situated about 30 km north of Humansdorp and approximately 80km from Port Elizabeth, with the town of Patensie located 15 km to the north.

On the outskirts of the town is a vantage point known as Vergaderingskop, which gives spectacular views over the town and the Gamtoos valley. It is on this koppie that Sarah Bartmann is buried.

Directly adjacent to the koppie is the largest sundial in Africa which has a diameter of 36.4m. It was erected by the late Dirk Schleringhout who arrived in the Gamtoos Valley from Holland with his family after the Second World War. The sundial forms part of the Heritage Site, which adjoins the Competition Site.