Heritage trail launched by Tourism Dundee
Next time you have family or friends staying over, encourage them to pick up a pamphlet on the heritage trail from the tourism office and join them on a stroll through history and remember to drive to Glencoe too!"
Dundee has always marketed itself as a historical hub. That reputation was further enhanced following Sunday’s launch of the historical trail by Tourism Dundee.
Thirty-six plaques have been put up on historical sites in Dundee, Sibongile and Glencoe. George Adalis of Charlies SuperSpar has kindly sponsored fifteen of these. In total, 68 sites have been identified.
The sites identified because of their historical value include the Cenotaph, Royal Country Inn, The Mews, St James Church, original beer hall, site of the curfew bell and in Glencoe, the Russian hospital during the Anglo-Boer War on Payne’s Farm and the Dutch Reformed Church. Mayor Richard Mbatha attended the launch and offered his full support to all programmes initiated to better promote Endumeni’s tourism potential.
The party of history lovers met at the historic NG Church on Beaconsfield Street where Pam McFadden, who co-ordinated the project, gave a run down on what this church means to the town: designed by architect, Gerard Moerdyk, the church next year marks its centenary. The Anton van Wouw’s brass art depicting the battle of Talana is a breathtaking piece of artwork and one the town can be proud of.
Pam has hundreds of anecdotal stories on all sites and full details can be found on the Tourism Dundee website: https://www.tourdundee.co.za/dundee_heritage_trail.html
The inscription on the plaques includes a brief description of the site and a QR (Quick Read) code that visitors can scan with their cellphones and be directed to a link which will give them full details.
Naresh Gopie, Tourism Dundee, chairman, lauded those involved in the project, saying the committee was doing all they can to come up with new, innovative ways of ensuring that tourism remains a money-spinner. He added that readers are welcome to contact Tourism Dundee should they believe additional sites should be added to the list. “Next time you have family or friends staying over, encourage them to pick up a pamphlet on the heritage trail from the tourism office and join them on a stroll through history and remember to drive to Glencoe too!”
