Heidelberg, 50km/31mi southeast of Johannesburg at the foot of the Suicurbosrand ("Sugar Hill"; 1,903m/6,244ft), was founded in 1862 by a German businessman, H. J. Öckermann, who named it after his home town in Germany. After the finding of gold on the Witwatersrand the town enjoyed a period of modest prosperity. It now has a population of 13,000
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Unlike most of the other centers round Johannesburg, Heidelberg is an attractive little town with a number of features of interest and a large nature reserve just outside the town. The Klipkerk (1890) in H. F. Verwoerd Street is a national monument; the vaulted undercroft contains valuable liturgical utensils.