#KnowYourHeritage: A brief history of Newcastle

Newcastle as it is known today, only received the name at a later stage and was named after the British Colonial Secretary, the fifth Duke of Newcastle.

September 24, 2018

F.C. Pelser 2 minutes read

The picturesque town of Newcastle is situated in the Amajuba district of Northern KwaZulu Natal and is the biggest and fastest growing town in the district.

With a vast agriculture, breathtaking scenery, rich history and booming enterprises, it is easy to fall in love with the town that we are lucky enough to call home.

But how well do we know our town?

Newcastle was founded in 1864 as the fourth settlement to be established in Natal after Durban, Weenen and Pietermaritzburg and has changed names a couple of times throughout history.

During the 1800s the town was established and named Post Halt Number 2 on military map, because many postal coaches stopped here to obtain fresh resources.

The then little town was used as a ‘halfway house’ for travelers on the journey between what we know today as Durban and Johannesburg in the old Transvaal.

The town was later renamed the Waterfall River Township as the Ncandu River flowed through the town.

Newcastle as it is known today, only received the name at a later stage and was named after the British Colonial Secretary, the fifth Duke of Newcastle.

During the Anglo-Boer War the town was incorporated into the old Transvaal and was renamed Viljoensdorp.

However the town was reclaimed by British forces, who re-established the town to what we know and love today as Newcastle.

Here are a few interesting facts about our town:

-Newcastle is known for its rich cultural history. There are many battlefields situated within our town. Some of these include Schuinshoogte, Laingsnek (just outside Newcastle) and Amajuba. There are also many other monuments which can be linked to the First Boer War and the Anglo Boer War such as Fort Amiel, Haggard’s House and O’neils cottage.

-One of the first Olympic standard swimming pools in South Africa is situated in Newcastle. The Newcastle Swimming Pool in Sunnyridge (widely known as the Ferrum Swimming Pool) has even hosted the All-Africa Development Gala.

-In 2008 Newcastle was announced as one of the cleanest cities in South Africa and the cleanest in KwaZulu Natal. The anouncement was made by then Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Mtholepi Mthimkuluting, that Newcastle beat out 26 KwaZulu-Natal municipalities for the title. The municipality won R250 000 in the Cleanest Town Competition sponsored by the Department that year.

–In 2015 Newcastle was one of the finalists in the Kwêla dorp van die jaar competition. The Competition has been held for the past few years, where the popular channel KykNet and Kwêla search for the best towns in South Africa. Middelburg ultimately walked away with the top honour that year.