Mossel Bay
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Museums & Culture
Museums you say? Pah! – we’ve got plenty. In the Dias Museum Complex alone we’ve got seven. There’s a superb shell museum, a Braille trail, an ethno-botanical garden, the famous Post Office Tree, a maritime museum, art exhibitions… And if it’s culture you’re after may we ask – whose culture? Portuguese? Khoi-san? African? Afrikaans? English? Black? White? Brown?… Mossel Bay has always been a cultural meeting point – and, appropriately, it leads the way in culturally sensitive tourism.
And then, of course, there’s the theatre. And the art galleries. And the craft shops. And the restaurants…
Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum ( Dias Museum Complex) This building was erected in 1901 to serve as a grain - saw mill. In 1987 it was adapted to serve as a unique maritime museum. A life size replica of Dias’s ship is on display together with all aspects of the maritime history of the early Portuguese, Dutch and English navigators. On the upper level is a cultural display which focuses on the heritage of Mossel Bay - the district and its people, from pre-historic times until today.
The Maritime Museum ( Dias Museum Complex) This building was erected in 1901 to serve as a grain - saw mill. In 1987 it was adapted to serve as a unique maritime museum. A life size replica of Dias’s ship is on display together with all aspects of the maritime history of the early Portuguese, Dutch and English navigators. On the upper level is a cultural display which focuses on the heritage of Mossel Bay - the district and its people, from pre-historic times until today.
- Private Bag X1, Mossel Bay, 6500
- 1 Market Street, CBD, Mossel Bay
- Phone: +27 (0)44 691 1067
- Fax: +27 (0)44 691 1915
- Email: info@diasmuseum.co.za
- Homepage: http://www.diasmuseum.co.za
Shell Museum & Aquarium
The Shell Museum (Dias Museum Complex) This building was erected in 1902 next to the Post Office Tree as an extension of the Old Mill. The museum houses imaginative shell exhibitions and portrays, for instance, the history of the use of shell by man. Live animals are displayed in their natural habitat in aquaria. The touch tank gives the visitors an opportunity to touch live sea animals. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism presents marine and coastal educational programmes to scholars at the museum.
The Shell Museum (Dias Museum Complex) This building was erected in 1902 next to the Post Office Tree as an extension of the Old Mill. The museum houses imaginative shell exhibitions and portrays, for instance, the history of the use of shell by man. Live animals are displayed in their natural habitat in aquaria. The touch tank gives the visitors an opportunity to touch live sea animals. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism presents marine and coastal educational programmes to scholars at the museum.
- Private Bag X1, Mossel Bay, 6500
- 1 Market Street, CBD, Mossel Bay
- Phone: +27 (0)44 691 1067
- Fax: +27 (0)44 691 1915
- Email: amunro@deat.gov.za
- Homepage: http://www.diasmuseum.co.za
The Old Post Office Tree
In 1500 Pedro de Alaide, on his return journey from the east, left a letter in a shoe or iron pot under a large tree. In the letter he warned of troubles he had encountered near Calcutta. In 1501 this letter was found by Joao da Nova, en route to India. In this way the first Post Office in South Africa was founded. The large tree, a Milkwood, has been declared a provincial heritage site and is generally known as the Post Office Tree. Any mail posted in the shoe under the tree gets the special post office tree frank. Da Nova was so grateful for de Ataide’s timely warning that he erected a small stone hermitage to be used for religious purposes. This was the first religious building erected in South Africa. The wooden cross stands where it is thought the chapel or hermitage was built.
In 1500 Pedro de Alaide, on his return journey from the east, left a letter in a shoe or iron pot under a large tree. In the letter he warned of troubles he had encountered near Calcutta. In 1501 this letter was found by Joao da Nova, en route to India. In this way the first Post Office in South Africa was founded. The large tree, a Milkwood, has been declared a provincial heritage site and is generally known as the Post Office Tree. Any mail posted in the shoe under the tree gets the special post office tree frank. Da Nova was so grateful for de Ataide’s timely warning that he erected a small stone hermitage to be used for religious purposes. This was the first religious building erected in South Africa. The wooden cross stands where it is thought the chapel or hermitage was built.
- Private Bag X1, Mossel Bay, 6500
- Phone: +27 (0)44 691 1067
- Fax: +27 (0)44 691 1915
- Email: info@diasmuseum.co.za
- Homepage: http://www.diasmuseum.co.za
Kwanonqaba Township Tours
Join us on a tour of our township in Mossel Bay with a local guide. Experience our everyday life, taverns, taste our home-made beer and food. Visit a Sangoma (traditional healer).Santos Express, Santos Beach, CBD, Mossel Bay
Join us on a tour of our township in Mossel Bay with a local guide. Experience our everyday life, taverns, taste our home-made beer and food. Visit a Sangoma (traditional healer).Santos Express, Santos Beach, CBD, Mossel Bay
- Phone: +27 (0)44 691 1995
- Email: santosexpress@mweb.co.za
- Homepage: http://www.santosexpress.co.za
Great Brak River Museum
Another of the great historic museums in Mossel Bay the Great Brak River Museum , which showcases the history of Great Brak River village established in 1859 and the Searle family founders. Many interesting photographs from 1881 to the present. Military and other interesting artefacts. Visit the restored 1924 hydropower station on request. Great Brak River has many historic houses built of local sun baked brick.
Another of the great historic museums in Mossel Bay the Great Brak River Museum , which showcases the history of Great Brak River village established in 1859 and the Searle family founders. Many interesting photographs from 1881 to the present. Military and other interesting artefacts. Visit the restored 1924 hydropower station on request. Great Brak River has many historic houses built of local sun baked brick.
- P.O. Box 20, Great Brak River, 6525
- 2 Amy Searle Street, Great Brak River
- Phone: +27 (0)44 620 3338
- Fax: +27 (0)44 620 3176
- Email: gbrmuseum@gmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.greatbrakriver.co.za
Dias Museum Complex
Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to set foot on South African soil at Mossel Bay. The museum grounds are situated at the very site where he came ashore and made contact with the indigenous people. The Dias Museum complex encompasses a wealth of places of historical interest. The most famous is the Old Post Office Tree. The complex consists of three buildings: the granary that serves as reception and info centre, the maritime museum and the Shell museum & aquarium.
Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to set foot on South African soil at Mossel Bay. The museum grounds are situated at the very site where he came ashore and made contact with the indigenous people. The Dias Museum complex encompasses a wealth of places of historical interest. The most famous is the Old Post Office Tree. The complex consists of three buildings: the granary that serves as reception and info centre, the maritime museum and the Shell museum & aquarium.
- Private Bag X1, Mossel Bay, 6500
- 1 Market Street, CBD, Mossel Bay
- Phone: +27 (0)44 691 1067
- Fax: +27 (0)44 691 1915
- Email: info@diasmuseum.co.za
- Homepage: http://www.diasmuseum.co.za
Ethno Botanical Garden & Braille Trail
This collection of plants occur naturally in the Mossel Bay area and were used by the Khoi, San, Coloured, Xhosa and European settlers for shelter, food and medicine as well as for magic and superstitious beliefs. The Braille Trail makes it accessible for sight-impaired people to feel and smell the wonderful collection.
This collection of plants occur naturally in the Mossel Bay area and were used by the Khoi, San, Coloured, Xhosa and European settlers for shelter, food and medicine as well as for magic and superstitious beliefs. The Braille Trail makes it accessible for sight-impaired people to feel and smell the wonderful collection.
- Private Bag X1, Mossel Bay, 6500
- 1 Market Street, CBD, Mossel Bay
- Phone: +27 (0)44 691 1067
- Fax: +27 (0)44 691 1915
- Email: info@diasmuseum.co.za
- Homepage: http://www.diasmuseum.co.za
Hartenbos Museum
One of the oldest museums in Mossel Bay the Hartenbos Museum is a delight for South African history buffs. The focal point of this museum is the Great Trek, featuring various dioramas and exhibition halls stocked with attractive antiquities demonstrating the living conditions of the Voortrekker pioneers from 1835 to 1848. You can also find the commemoration hall for the 1938 Symbolic Ox Wagon Trek, together with an outstanding display of a typical traditional store as well as the complete history of the town.
One of the oldest museums in Mossel Bay the Hartenbos Museum is a delight for South African history buffs. The focal point of this museum is the Great Trek, featuring various dioramas and exhibition halls stocked with attractive antiquities demonstrating the living conditions of the Voortrekker pioneers from 1835 to 1848. You can also find the commemoration hall for the 1938 Symbolic Ox Wagon Trek, together with an outstanding display of a typical traditional store as well as the complete history of the town.
- Majuba Avenue, Hartenbos
- Phone: +27 (0)44 695 2183
- Fax: +27 (0)44 695 0770
- Email: hartenbos@atkv.org.za
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