Rawsonville is a small wine growing and farming community in the Breede River Valley of the Western Cape province of South Africa.

The economy remains heavily reliant on serving the agricultural community, however tourism in the form of weekend retreats are becoming more important to the town's income.

By the 1850s the necessity for the formation of a hamlet had become clear; the ward was cut off from Worcester during the rainy season when the Breede River burst it banks regularly.

During the 1800s, if a doctor was needed someone had to travel to Worcester on horseback or on foot and if it rained continuously for six hours, the Smalblaar River burst its banks and the water ran through town.

[3] A new community centre with facilities including a meeting hall and classrooms was opened in the town in 2018[4][5] for the Merwida wine estate.