Pietermaritzburg - Capital of the Zulu Kingdom

Greytown's Historical & Cultural Attractions

Battlefield


Ambush/Bambathe's Rock
23 kms from Greytown on the Keates Drift Road. Close to the roadside.
In 1906 during the Bambatha Uprising, a column of police was sent to collect two women and children from the Marshall Hotel, and also the storekeeper's wife from Keates Drift. On their return during the evening of 4 April they were ambushed at this rock. Four policemen were killed, later resulting in a terrible revenge against the rebels at Pukunyoni, Isuze and Mome Gorge.


Building's


Town hall
37-47 Bell Street, cnr. of Pine Street, Greytown.
The town hall was started in 1897 and completed in 1904, after architect Street Wilson had re-designed it. It is a National monument.


Umvoti Mounted Rifles Hall
This is the oldest hall in Greytown. It was built in 1880 as a Masonic Hall, but then became the headquarters of the Umvoti Mounted Rifles. It is now used by the public works department.


Church


Hermannsburg Lutheran Church
The Hermannsburg Mission was settled in 1854, and the Neo Gothic Lutheran Church built later. The church, with its steep roof and interesting bell tower, is a national monument.


Fort


Fort Ahrens/Hermannsburg Laager
Four kilometres north-west of the Ahrens Railway Station
It was built in 1878 by Dutch speaking settlers. They took shelter in it from January until mid April 1879 and furnished a mounted force of between 50 and 80 men, who used the laager as headquarters and base for patrols of the vicinity.It was declared a national monument in November 1978.

Hot Springs
Shushu Hot Springs
0733726170



Ruins of Fort Ahrens
Farm Perserverance 1324, 6 kms north-west of Hermannsburg
The laager was built as a refuge and it was well constructed of stone, and loopholed. some historians place its date of erection as 1863, whereas others say that it dates from the Zulu War period.


Umvoti Laager
On the Umvoti River ten kms south of Greytown
The Laager was built in 1878 by local farmers. It was briefly occupied in 1879, but then abandoned early for want of defenders.


Grave


Sarie Marais Grave
Off the D479 on the Stanger Road from Greytown.
The song is based on the American 'My Darling Ellie Rhee' and gets its name from Sarie Marais who married at 17 and died two days after Christmas. She had her 11th child at age 35.


Homestead


Balmoral Farmhouse
5 kms south of Greytown on the Farm Heuningfontein. It is well signposted.
Balmoral Farmhouse near Rietvlei is a National monument. Near Rietvlei in the Umvoti district monument. Birth place of General Louis Botha. Born on the Farm Honeyfontein (Heuningfontein) in 1862, Louis Botha went on to become the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1919.

Monument


Memorial To Policemen, Bambatha Uprising
13 kms from Greytown on the Keate's Drift/Greytown Road is a memorial to four policemen killed at the Battle of Ambush Rock during the Bambatha Uprising.


Mosque


Greytown Mosque
Bell Street, Greytown
The mosque was built in 1848 as a wood and iron structure. The present building was put up in 1946 and can accommodate 200 worshippers.

Museum


Greytown Museum
On the Battlefields route - on R33, R74 & R622
The museum houses a Hindu and Muslim room, Zulu culture room, Victorian children's room, Military room, old kitchen, blacksmith's firge in the coach house, old farming equipment, Cape cart and spider, sundials, 1750 cannon brought to Greytown in 1852 by an 18 year old orphaned girl who was accompanied by 10 shipwrecked Zulus, medical displays, steam engines and an old hearse.
Telephone: 033 413 1171

zoom Sewing machines in Greytown Museum.

Site


Ambush/ Bambatha's Rock
23 kms from Greytown on the Keate's Drift Road. It is situated close to the road.
During the Bambatha Uprising of 1906, the inhabitants of Greytown went into the laager in the Town Hall. A column of police was sent to fetch civilians from the area of Keate's Drift, but it was ambushed by rebels at this rock on 4th April. Four policemen were killed, resulting in a terrible revenge against the rebels at Pukunyoni, Isuze and Mome Gorge.


Louis Botha's Birthplace
5 kms south of Greytown, on the Pietermaritzburg Road.
Louis Botha, first Prime Minister of South Africa and Great Boer General, was born in 1862 in a homestead that no longer exists. It was on the farm Heuninfontein, a subdivision of Hartebeestvlakte. The site is on a private farm, but access is allowed.


Temple


Shree Vishnu Mandir Temple
Cathcart Street, Greytown
The temple was built in 1933, and a new one opened in 1977. The lotus flower is symbolically reflected by the architecture.

zoom Bambatha's Rock near Keates Drift Photo: uMgungundlovu District Municipality

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