Graafwater has a somewhat surf and turf history, as it was built as a railway junction in 1910 for the transportation of agricultural products from Clanwilliam and seafood products from Lambert’s Bay.

The town lies between these two destinations, inland of the West Coast. The name Graafwater translates to “digging for water”, which is believed to indicate the method used to source water for farming in this semi-arid region.

Cattle and sheep are farmed on large farms surrounding the town.

The Herenlogement (gentleman’s lodging) is a renowned cave found about 25 kilometres from Graafwater on the north road to Vredendal.

The walls of this rock shelter were used to carve the names or initials of travellers of the 1700s who stayed over in the cave, and about 107 carvings have been recorded in this rocky “visitors book”.
 
An account of the shelter was documented by Cape Governor Hendrik Swellengrebel, who passed this way in 1737.
 
He also mentioned a wild fig tree growing out of a cleft at the back of the cave, which can be seen to this day.

The Herenlogement has been declared a national monument.