In 1889 the Conservator of Forests, Eastern Conservancy, King William’s Town provisionally divided the Eastern Conservancy into five forestal districts, namely King William’s Town, Keiskama Hoek, Stutterheim, Alexandria and East London. Each forestal district was placed under the immediate supervision of a district forest officer.

The first district forest officer in charge of the Keiskama Hoek forestal district was EB Dwyer who was appointed on 1 January 1890 (Annexures to the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Assembly, G29-1889, Vol 2, p 49 and Cape of Good Hope Civil Service List, 1891, p 76). As from January 1909 the officer in charge of the Keiskama Hoek forestal district was designated Assistant District Forest Officer (Cape of Good Hope Civil Service List, 1910, p 149).