Rhodesian Place Names
Last Updated :
May 26, 2007
Most of the information on these
pages is extracted from the books :
"Avondale
to Zimbabwe"
written and published by R. Cherer Smith ISBN 0-7974-0313-2 and
"Tabex Encyclopedia Zimbabwe" © Quest Publishing ISBN
0-908306-04-0
with additional notes and photographs by the webmaster and other
contributors as acknowledged.
Note :
I need more information about Robert Cherer Smith so if anyone knows how to
get hold of any of his relatives, I'd be pleased to hear. Gordon.
Balla Balla 001
Chakari 003
Essexvale 007
Figtree 004
Gatooma 008
Melsetter 005
Nyamandhlovu
009
Mount Darwin 002
Plumtree 006
Tjolotjo 010
Excerpts from : "Avondale
to Zimbabwe" written and published by R. Cherer Smith ISBN
0-7974-0313-2
About the Book
In the ninety years that the country has been known as Rhodesia
its development has, particularly in more recent times, been
phenomenal. Many of the towns and villages grew up around gold
mines, others were established on the sites of African villages
or at communication centres; a number grew around a district
commissioner's camp.
This book contains a concise history of 150 Rhodesian
towns and villages and covers a wide range of information on the
country's history, culture, legend, flora and fauna as well as
many other aspects of our way of life. The altitude, rainfall and
position of each place is given and the book is lively
illustrated by M. M. Carlisle. The President of Rhodesia, the
Hon. J. J. Wrathall, G.M.L.M., I.D., has written a Foreword to
the book, which will be approximately 320 pages in length and
printed on Sappi Antique paper. The cover will be printed in 2
colours on Foldcote board, but a limited number of fully bound
copies will also be available. The book should prove a useful
reference work to professional and businessmen, including
philatelists.
About the Author
Robert Smith, who is of 1820 Settler stock, was born in the
Orange Free State in 1919. He completed his education in South
Africa before coming to Rhodesia in 1934. After working for a
commercial firm at Plumtree he joined the Postal Services of
Rhodesia. He became Deputy Postmaster-General in 1964 and in 1973
joined the Agricultural Research Council of Rhodesia as its Chief
Executive.
He wrote "Rhodesia A Postal History, Its Stamps, Posts and
Telegraphs", which has been updated by two supplements. He
is the author of "The House of Cherer", a history of
the Smith family which arrived in South Africa in 1820. He is a
keen student of Rhodesian history and a member of the National
Executive of the Rhodesiana Society, and has contributed a number
of articles to the Society's journal.
Mr. Smith is a Chartered Secretary by profession and a Fellow of
the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants.