Despatch is a quaint little town located on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth. Its peaceful atmosphere makes this the perfect destination for those wishing to escape the bustling city after a day’s work in the nearby city of Port Elizabeth and industrial centre of Uitenhage.

The town was originally developed in 1942 and officially obtained municipal status in 1945. The name Despatch derives a from the brick industry that often used a small railway siding to “dispatch” bricks to the nearby areas of Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth in the early 1800’s. The Brick Chimney, standing proud in the centre of town today, is a reminder of this booming industry that once supplied the area with bricks to build houses and businesses. Some of the original bricks that were produced in Despatch can be viewed at the Despatch Museum along with redbrick chimneys that were built by a former town engineer.

In 2001, Despatch along with Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth and surrounding agricultural areas were incorporated into the new Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. This metropolitan area is known to have a population of more than 1.3 million.

It won’t take those interested in buying property in Despatch long to realise that, although the town is not considered small, the community is close-knit and supportive as could be expected from such a lovely destination.

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