Richmond/Byrne & District Museum

Contact:  Shakila Mahabeer  Curator/Treasurer
Tel / Fax : 033 2123038
VOX : 0878084935 ( Prefered)

 

Richmond district, once part of the Zulu king Shaka’s royal hunting ground, is now occupied by a multicultural population including descendants of the 1850 Byrne Settlers, the Bhaca, Zulu, Indian & coloured communities. The town is situated an hours drive from Durban and half an hour from Pietermaritzburg.

The hardships of the early Byrne Settlers after a hazardous three months voyage to and undeveloped and strange land and climate of extremes can only be imagined. They are commemorated in displays of their handmade clothes, needlework and furniture, as well as sporting memorabilia and trophies.

The educational achievements such as the oldest government Primary School in Natal as well as the Girls Boarding School, St Mary’s College for young ladies. The Methodist Ndaleni Educational Institution and Art School are also commemorated in documents, photos and artefacts. The Bhaca, Zulu and Indian cultures too are displayed by various artefacts. The story of the Trewergie incident of the 1906 Bambatha Rebellion is on record as well.

Richmond boasts the first Tennis Club in South Africa and the oldest Anglican Church, St Mary’s, in Natal. George McLeod from Byrne supplied the earliest meteorological data to the Natal Witness. Richmond also provided individual achievers such as three Natal Judges, school principals, authors, artists and educators from all its communities.

iRichmond ne Byrne imyuziyemu yalesigodi, inawu ubuningi ukukombisa abantu abahlala khona, futhi nabo abasivakashelayo. Loku kanye nohlobo zengubo eza gqokwa kulobuzwe. Kuya kombisa ubuciko bomsebenzi ekade benza emakhaya. Isi khumbuzo esamiswa qondene ne Mishini yase Ndaleni Indlu yemfundo uku fundiswa izikhono eziningi.

Imfiso yethu iqondene nabantu abakhulileyo, abansundu, amakhaladi namandiya abahla kulesigodi; banga funa isikhathi sokusivakashela indlu okubekwa kuyo izinto zokubukwa zasendulo. (Imyuziyemu eyenu) ukuthatheka kwenu izosiza lendawu iyandiswe ngezinto esiphuma kini, ibengemphela imuziyemu elinemfanekiso zalelibandla elixubene kangaka.