Karatara is a small town on the Seven Passes Road, due north of Sedgefield. The surrounding area was originally developed for forestry, with the distinctive houses and square layout of the Welsyndorp (welfare town) added later.
The Carnegie Commission of 1932 investigated the “poor white” problem, identifying the Knysna woodcutters as the main group.
The plan was to house the bosbouwerkers who were “pensioned off” from their forestry jobs in the Knysna forests. The construction of houses in the Welsyndorp commenced in 1941.
References
- Caveney, Philip (2016) Karatara: A story of poverty, people & plantations.
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