The town is also well known for the large number of unique and well-preserved fossil finds that litter the surrounding area.

[3] A post office was established in 1858, seven years after the town's founding, this led to an era of development for the area.

[7] Since then a number of fossilised remains of other pre-dinosaur creatures such as Pareiasaurs, Dinocephalians, and Therapsids have been discovered in an area regarded as one of the best paleontological sites in South Africa.

[8] Fossils of some of the following Permian period reptiles have been found in the area: Fraserburg is situated at an altitude of 1,385 metres (4,544 ft) above sea level on a high Karoo plateau, north of the Nuweveld Mountains.

Similar to -although not to the same extent as- nearby Sutherland, Fraserburg's arid climate and remote location make its night skies among the world's clearest and darkest.

The telescopes of the South African Astronomical Observatory 32°22′46″S 20°48′38.5″E / 32.37944°S 20.810694°E / -32.37944; 20.810694 (SAAO) list located roughly 95 km to the west of the town just outside Sutherland.