Victoria West was founded in 1843 when the Dutch Reformed Church bought a part of the farm Zeekoegat from Mr J.H. Claassens. The town was then named after Queen Victoria of England. Later, when a similarly named district was formed in the Eastern Cape, "West" was added to the back of the name in order to distinguish it from it's eastern counterpart. The town in the Eastern Cape was then called Victoria East

The town is relatively small, and it's doubtful whether it would ever become a big city if minerals of some sort isn't discovered here. Yet the town possesses some attributes that some larger towns and cities don't have, namely tradition, a long history and an atmosphere of pride and friendliness.

Another peace of interesting history is that of the second Standard Bank in South Africa that was opened here in 1856. This bank, although in a new building, is still in existance today and the signitures of the first stock holders stillappear on a peace of pig skin of several metres long. This pig skin can be viewed in The Vicoria West Regional museum.