'Trucking' in South Africa 110 years ago. 12 vintage picture postcards.

Crossing the Drift.

Ok, we all know there were no trucks over a century ago but the equivalent mode of transport in South Africa at the time was the ox wagon. In fact there was no South Africa at that time. The country was divided into two British colonies, name the Cape Colony and Natal and the two boer republics, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. In 1886 gold was discovered and very rapidly a mining town arose from the dusty veld. As there were no navigable rivers or seafront and the railways were yet to reach into the Orange Free State and the Transvaal everything for the mines and newly emerging towns was transported by wagon. Johannesburg rapidly arose from the dusty veld. To-day Johannesburg is a powerhouse on the African continent. Although life proceeded at the pace of the ox one can only imagine the sweat and hardship this entailed. This was all about to change in the period between 1895 and 1920 when large scale construction of the railways proceeded. It then reduced the need for the transport rider, stagecoaches and wagons.

A way of life was coming to an end.

Below: Picture postcards from my collection during the 'golden age' of collecting managed to preserve many of the 'trekking scenes. Hope you enjoy them. Let me know if this interests you.