Although ownership of the main industry has changed, the little town of Great Brak River will always be associated with the Searle family. In 1859 when the bridge was built across the river it was to be funded by a tollgate. The tender to operate this was awarded to Charles Searle, who had just the previous year immigrated to South Africa. He settled on the farm Voorbrug next to the bridge and soon also set up a shop, a watermill and a woolwashing concern. In 1884 he sold the thriving businesses to his sons and two years later opened a shoe factory which eventually became the backbone of Great Brak’s commerce. Searle also built the pretty Spanish-style church which boasts a font made from a post of the old turnpike. Until recently his rule held that no alcohol be sold in the village, but the ban was lifted by popular demand. The lagoon at the river’s mouth encompasses The Island, a popular holiday resort and residential area. A new nine-hole golf course further lends appeal to visitors and holiday makers.
