Nicknamed the “City of Industries”, Newcastle is one of the largest urban settlements in KwaZulu-Natal. It was established by the British in 1854 on the banks of the Ncandu River and was used as an army depot during the Anglo-Boer Wars. At the end of the 19th century, coal was discovered nearby and KwaZulu-Natal’s first steel plant was built shortly after.
Things to do in Newcastle
One of Newcastle’s most impressive architectural landmarks is the Town Hall, which was constructed in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Designated as a National Monument, it is topped by a soaring clock tower and regularly hosts live music performances. Learn about its role in the Second Boer War while admiring the monuments erected outside.
A short walk away is the Carnegie Art Gallery, which occupies a 1915-built library designed in an Edwardian style. It exhibits contemporary paintings, ceramics and sculptures by South African artists, as well as beadwork, textiles and wooden carvings in the Zulu tradition. An inspiring selection of gifts is available in the gallery store.
On the edge of Newcastle’s CBD is the Fort Amiel Museum, which was constructed in 1876 as a lookout post for the British and used as a garrison during the First Boer War. Today, it exhibits military artefacts, as well as a reconstructed cookhouse from a 19th-century army base. You can step inside a traditional “umuzi” hut before soaking up the magnificent views across the Drakensberg mountain range.
Getting around Newcastle
Newcastle is around 3.5 hours’ drive from Pietermaritzburg and just under five hours from Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect from Johannesburg and Durban to the Newcastle railway station while minibus taxis travel throughout the city.