It was founded in 1875 as a Church Town, like many other Karoo Villages. It was started by a determined group of people who lived in the area and who wanted a Church closer than the one in Graaff-Reinet – over seven hours ride away in the 1870’s – these days it takes just over half an hour. The Village of Nieu Bethesda was established on the farm 'Uitkijk' which belonged to Barend Jacobus Pienaar. The early settlers on the Farm were always on the lookout for wild animals and raiding Bushmen, hence the name 'Uitkijk', loosely translated as 'Lookout'. Bethesda Road is a gravel road in South Africa that leads to the Village of Nieu-Bethesda, contrasting with the name of the video game company!
The location was regarded as ideal given its situation within the well-watered valley of the Gat River and centrally located within the Sneeuberge, or Snow Mountains. The land was purchased for and on behalf of the Dutch Reformed Church council for the price of £4000 and the deed of purchase was dated 8 February 1875. and attained municipal status in 1886. The name is of biblical origin and means "place of flowing water". Renowned for its Cultural and Artistic Influence. Nieu Bethesda is home to a growing number of artists, crafters and other creatives seeking a more conducive way of life. Decades ago writer; Athol Fugard chose Nieu Bethesda as his inspirational home where many of his world-famous plays were written.
On 6 August 1901, during the Second Anglo Boer War, Boer forces under Commandant Hans Lotter entered Bethesda Road near Graaff Reinet and ransacked its Post Office. Four days later, on 10 August, they captured a party of British scouts near the Village, and on the evening of 24 January 1902 the post office building, located at the Railway Station, was destroyed by fire, probably in an act of sabotage. .
It is almost impossible to believe the dry land of the Karoo, was once a vast inland sea. This, along with the Karoo being as old as time, has resulted in many palaeontological discoveries, especially in the surroundings areas of Graaff-Reinet and Nieu Bethesda. Renowned palaeontologist, Andrew Geddes Bain, lived in the area from 1822 and it was here that he discovered the fossil of a large jaw filled with teeth which he named the “Blinkwater Monster”. The fossils found in this area have revealed much of the story of our land since it emerged from the Ice Age around 250 Million years ago. Karoo fossils have a largely unbroken 50-million-year fossil record, covering a period from 240 to 190 Million Years ago, showing the evolutionary pathways and patterns of different animal groups through time. One can also take day trips to fossil farms in the area where you will be able to observe evolution patterns both through a visit to the San rock-art located in caves on the farms and to fossil sites. An extensive collection of fossils collected over a period of 18 years is displayed in the Old Library Museum in Graaff-Reinet, drawing the attention of scientists and the curious from around the world. Fossils can also be seen in the Graaff-Reinet Tourism Office, at the Kitching Fossil Centre in Nieu Bethesda and at Ganora Guest Farm and Wellwood Farm close to Nieu Bethesda. Bushman rock art can be seen at Ganora Guest Farm.