Hankey is a small town on the confluence of the Klein  and Gamtoos

Gamtoos River

Gamtoos River formed by the Kouga and the Groot is situated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is approximately 645 km long with a catchment area of 34,635 km²...

 rivers in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality

Kouga Local Municipality

The Kouga Local Municipality is located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, approximately 20 km west of Port Elizabeth, and forms part of the Cacadu District Municipality...

 of the Cacadu District

Cacadu District Municipality

Cacadu District Municipality is situated in the Western Portion of the Eastern Cape province, covering an area of 58 242 square kilometres. The area of the district municipality includes nine local municipalities and other portions collectively known as the District Management Areas . The seat of...

 in the Eastern Cape

Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...

.

History

In 1822 Dr John Philip

John Philip (missionary)

Dr John Philip , was a missionary in South Africa. Philip was born at Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland to a local schoolmaster...

, the superintendent of the London Missionary Society

London Missionary Society

The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...

 established a mission station on the farm Wagendrift and named it after Reverend William Alers Hankey, the treasurer of the London Missionary Society

London Missionary Society

The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...

. An irrigation tunnel constructed under direction of William Philip, the son of Dr John Philip, is today protected as a National Monument.

On August 19, 2002, the remains of Saartjie Baartman

Saartjie Baartman

Sarah "Saartjie" Baartman was the most famous of at least two Khoikhoi women who were exhibited as freak show attractions in 19th century Europe under the name Hottentot Venus—"Hottentot" as the then-current name for the Khoi people, now considered an offensive term, and "Venus" in reference to...

 were laid to rest on Vergaderingskop, a hill on the edge of town.

As is the case with most South African towns, there are residential areas previously reserved for non-white residents set up on the outskirts of the town. In the case of Hankey these are Centerton on the western edge of the town (on the opposite bank of the Klein River

Klein River

Klein River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Hermanus. Its tributaries include the Karringmelk River. It falls within the Drainage system G.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa...

) and Weston, located about 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) to the south-west (on the opposite bank of the Gamtoos River

Gamtoos River

Gamtoos River formed by the Kouga and the Groot is situated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is approximately 645 km long with a catchment area of 34,635 km²...

).

Transport

Hankey is located on the junction of the R330

R330 (Eastern Cape)

The R330 is a Regional Route in South Africa that connects Cape St. Francis with Hankey via Humansdorp.-External links:*...

 and the R331

R331 (Eastern Cape)

The R331 is a Regional Route in South Africa that connects the N2 with the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve near Patensie and Andrieskraal.-External links:*...

 roads and the Avontuur Railway passes through the town.