Museum

The Greytown Museum

The Greytown Museum houses a large collection representing the multi-faceted history of the area including the Boer Wars, the Zulu Wars, the Bambatha Rebellion as well as a number of rooms dedicated to displaying memorabilia from the many different cultures that impacted the area over the centuries. There is a Victorian children’s room, a Hindu and Muslim room, a Zulu culture room in addition to the museum covering the major Boer and Anglo influences.

The external exhibits include steam engines, a hearse, a restored Cape Cart, and a Spider. One of the major exhibits is a 1750′s cannon brought to Greytown in 1852, all the way from Port St. Johns. Incredibly, the canon was transported by an eighteen year old orphaned girl accompanied by ten shipwrecked Zulus through countryside inhabited by wild animals. A 115 year old fig tree (Ficus Natalensis) was planted by Annie Botha (sister of General Louis Botha), while married to Dr. Birtwell who built the original building that house the museum in 1879.

The building was sold to the Colonial Government and it was used as The Residency for the local magistrate until 1971. The new magistrate found it unacceptable and the Council built a new residence on the adjoining property. The museum was opened in the original building in 1973.

The museum is open from Monday to Friday from 8h00 to 16h00

Saturday visits by written appointment only.

Email museum@umvoti.gov.za