Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: George is considered the capital of the Southern Cape and is situated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It has a very mild climate and the region receives above average rainfall. Centuries ago several Khoi tribes were present in this area and the first Europeans settled here around the middle of the 18th century. After the foundation of the town of George in 1811 more people moved to this region. Khoi, and later coloured people, lived at the Pacaltsdorp Mission station. Initially the town developed very slowly and it was only after 1920 that growth accelerated. With regard to architecture, the Cape Dutch Revival style started appearing since 1900, but it was only from 1920 onwards that many new buildings were erected in this style. Up untill then architecture reflected the successive styles current during the 19th century. However very few of these buildings survived in George. The Cape Dutch architectural style that was used until the late 19th century in the rural areas, was the first indigenous South African style that revived. This revival was initiated by sir Herbert Baker, and after 1910 it was applied increasingly by other architects. Several characteristics of the Cape Dutch style were incorporated in the Revival Style, but the eclectic approach of the style resulted in a variety of styles being represented. In other towns of the Southern Cape and Little Karroo the same trends appeared, putting the architecture of George in perspective. In South Africa the theories on conservation are not applied satisfactorily. In George specifically there are no attempts by local authorities to conserve the architectural heritage systematically and judiciously. Some local conservation bodies have attempted to create awareness, but had little success. As the Cape Dutch Revival style is the oldest style of which a number of buildings are still in existence, it is from a conservational point of view of the utmost importance that they are being cared for in a circumspect way. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: George word beskou as die hoofstad van die Suid-Kaap en is geleë in die Wes-Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika. Die klimaat is gematigd en die streek kry 'n bogemiddelde reënval. Verskeie Khoi-stamme is reeds eeue gelede in hierdie streek aangetref en die blanke vestiging het rondom die middel van die 18de eeu begin. Na die stigting van George in 1811 het meer mense daarheen getrek. Van die bruin gemeenskap het by die sendingstasie in Pacaltsdorp saamgetrek. Die dorp het aanvanklik baie stadig gegroei en eers sedert 1920 het die ontwikkeling vinniger toegeneem. Sedert 1900 het die Kaaps-Hollandse Herlewingstyl in die argitektuur posgevat, maar dit was veral na 1920 dat baie van die nuwe geboue in die styl opgerig is. Tot op daardie stadium is daar gebou in die opeenvolgende style wat in die 19de eeu kontemporêr was. Van hierdie geboue het baie min in George oorgebly. Die Kaaps-Hollandse boustyl wat tot in die laat 19de eeu nog op die platteland toegepas is, was die eerste Suid-Afrikaanse inheemse styl wat herleef het. Die herlewing is in die 1890's geïnisieer deur sir Herbert Baker, en na 1910 is dit toenemend deur ander argitekte aangewend. Verskeie kenmerke van die Kaaps-Hollandse styl is in die Herlewingstyl opgeneem, maar die eklektiese benadering by laasgenoemde het tot gevolg gehad dat 'n groot verskeidenheid style daarin verteenwoordig word. Ander dorpe in die Suid-Kaap en Klein-Karoo het dieselfde tendense geopenbaar, wat die argitektuur van George in perspektief plaas. Die teorie van bewaring word in Suid-Afrika nog nie goed toegepas op erfenis nie. In George spesifiek is daar van owerheidsweë geen pogings om die geboue-erfenis sistematies en oordeelkundig te bewaar nie. Enkele bewaringsorganisasies wend pogings tot bewusmaking aan, maar het nog min sukses gehad. Omdat die Kaaps-Hollandse Herlewingstyl die oudste styl is waarvan daar nog 'n groep geboue in George behoue gebly het, is dit noodsaaklik dat daar uit 'n bewaringsoogpunt in die toekoms met groot omsigtigheid daarna omgesien word.