By the beginning of the 18th century about 29 farmers lived in an area called Groenkloof and on one of these farms, Langfontein, De Rust was founded in 1853. It was named after Sir Charles Henry De Rust who came in 1851 to the Cape as Lieutenant Governor.

The De Rust Museum shows the history of the town and the De Rust creamery which was established in 1899 by two Swedish settlers, Nils Georg Moller and G. Threnstrom, and was closed in 1950. De Rust is famous for its wildflowers and since 1917 the annual De Rust Wildflower show is held by the De Rust Wildflower Society, founded in 1915 by Mrs. Suzanne Malan and Mr. Frederick Duckitt of Waylands.

The first private school to open its doors in the Swartland area, De Rust College, is also situated close to the entrance of the down on the Malmesbury side.

The area is malaria-free, safe with a very low crime rate and we pride ourselves on a fantastic climate - beautiful sunny winter days with cool nights. Summers are perfect, hot and sunny.

The town itself is peaceful and tree lined with excellent examples of late 19th century architecture. Our drinking water from a mountain spring puts expensive bottled water to shame.