 The area was inhabited by the Khoikhoi and the San before the arrival of 21 Dutch, Huguenot and German families in 1705-06, and there is still well-preserved San rock art in the mountains.There was once a small military post in the town to protect the livestock of farmers from raids by the Khoikhoi.By the 1730s the population had grown to 35 families and around 400 White people.