The town of Albertinia was named after the reverend JR Albertyn, originally from Riversdale. Albertyn worked hard to establish a new church in the Albertinia area. After buying a farm called Grootfontein in 1900, a new town was proclaimed in 1904.

Farming in the area normally consists of wheat and sheep farming but this area also has other, rather unusual products. In the 18 th century, Sir John Barrow, an explorer, noticed deposits of red and yellow ochre, and made a note of it.

No one paid much notice to the Albertinia ochre deposits until Mr. W.R van As started mining it in 1925. Today this is South Africa's most important ochre mine. Quartzite and kaolin are also mined in this area.

Another unique product of this area is aloe juice. The area between Albertinia and Mossel bay is home to many species of aloe, but "Aloe Ferox" is the most popular.

Albertina is the ideal overnight point if you want to spend the whole day in the Garden route because it is right on the western edge, close to Mossel Bay.