Hobhouse, Free State


Hobhouse is a small farming town in the Free State province of South Africa, named after welfare campaigner Emily Hobhouse. Maize, wheat, cheese and livestock are produced here.

Background

Town 32 km north-east of Wepener and 51 km south-west of Ladybrand, near the Lesotho border. It was laid out on the farm Poortjie in 1912 and attained municipal status in 1913. Named after Emily Hobhouse, author and philanthropist who brought to public notice abuses in concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War.