Durban is known as the City that has cultural resources in abundance, as such, education and historical empowerment of the citizens on the significance of the history and cultural heritage remains a priority in the City’s agenda. Museums play a vital role in ensuring the historical and cultural empowerment of the communities. The aim is to ensure that people remained informed of their history and culture as an important mechanism in building the nation as an instrument of social cohesion.
But despite this, there are compelling reasons that museums are more relevant today than it has ever been. From addressing key social issues to transforming how we see the future; museums have the power to reflect and shape the society. Museums have the power to create unity. They are able to provide a sense of community and place by celebrating a collective heritage, offering a great way to get to know the history of a particular area.
Museums under eThekwini Municipality are classified in three times and all these fall under the banner of heritage. These classification are Durban Local History Museums (LHM), Durban Art Gallery (DAG) and Durban Natural Science Museum (NSM). LHM deals with cultural and historical heritage of eThekwini Municipality, Durban Art Gallery deals with all forms of visual art aspects of heritage while Durban Natural Science Museum focuses on the natural science aspects of heritage.
Passbook Competition
All prizes for the LHM Passbook Competition are awarded at the annual Prize Giving Ceremony which takes place in September. Schools: educators and learners are invited to receive their prizes. Our partners play a significant role in this phase through adjudication, sponsoring and presentation of prizes. There are different prizes suited for the different grades that are catered for; they include books, tablets, e-readers, educational board games and other various educational tools.... read more.
Bergtheil Museum Passbook Exhibition
Mariannhill Monastery Museum
Old House Museum Passbook Exhibition
Palmiet Nature Reserve Passbook Exhibition
Pinetown Museum Exhibition
Durban Natural Science Museum – City Hall
Location/Address: 234 Anton Lembede Street, City Hall building, 1st floor Cultural block, Durban 4001
Visiting Hours: Mondays to Saturday: 08:30 to 15:45; Sundays & Public Holidays: 11:00 to 16:00
Entrance Fees: Free
Category: Natural Science: Public galleries
Activities/Programmes: Self-guided gallery tours; guided tours; curriculum-linked programmes; outreach programmes; weekend programmes; holiday programmes; lunch-time talks; workshops and seminars; exhibition’s programmes; classroom support programmes.
Contact Details: Telephone: (031) 311-2256; Email: NSM.Frontdesk@durban.gov.za
Prohibitions/Conditions of Entry:
- No disturbing other visitors.
- No eating or drinking in the museum, except in designated areas.
- No weapons allowed.
- No entry while under the influence of alcohol or narcotic substances.
- Flash photography prohibited without prior written consent of the Director.
- No photographs or videos may be published without prior written consent of the Director.
- No touching museum objects or their cases/stands, unless designated as interactive.
Operating Hours: 08:00–16:00
Durban Natural Science Museum – Research Centre
Location/Address: 151 KE Masinga Road, entrance in Wyatt Road, Durban 4001
Visiting Hours: Mondays to Fridays: 08:30 to 15:30; Closed on weekends and public holidays
Entrance Fees: Free
Category: Natural Science: Research Specimen Collections
Activities/Programmes: Behind-the-scenes tours; visits to the collections; scientific talks; research/programmes; specimen loan requests; specimen data & image requests; donations of specimens; workshops and biodiversity seminars.
Contact Details: Telephone: (031) 311-2256 / (031) 322 4212; Email: NSM.Frontdesk@durban.gov.za
Prohibitions/Conditions of Entry:
- Behind-the-scenes tours require prior booking.
- No eating or drinking in collection spaces.
- No weapons allowed.
- No entry while under the influence of alcohol or narcotic substances.
- Photography of specimens requires prior consent of the Director or relevant Curator.
- No photographs or videos may be published without prior written consent of the Director.
- No touching museum objects or their cases/stands, unless designated as interactive.
- Specimen donors must complete and sign a donation form.
- Visitors to collections must complete a signed visitor request form.
- Users of collection material must submit a signed loan/biomaterial transfer request for approval.
Operating Hours: 08:00–16:00
Durban Natural Science Museum – Kwa-Zuzulwazi Centre (Temporarily Closed)
Location/Address: 1136 Malandela Road, Section E, KwaMashu, 4360
Visiting Hours: Mondays to Fridays: 09:00 to 15:00; Saturdays: 09:00 to 12:00; Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays
Entrance Fees: Free
Category: Natural Science: Hands-on activities
Activities/Programmes: Curriculum-linked hands-on activities; walk-in visits; guided visits; weekend programmes; holiday programmes.
Contact Details: Telephone: (031) 311-2256; Email: NSM.Frontdesk@durban.gov.za
Prohibitions/Conditions of Entry:
- No disturbing other visitors.
- No eating or drinking in the museum, except in designated areas.
- No weapons allowed.
- No entry while under the influence of alcohol or narcotic substances.
- Flash photography prohibited without prior written consent of the Director.
- No photographs or videos may be published without prior written consent of the Director.
- No touching museum objects or their cases/stands, unless designated as interactive.
Operating Hours: 08:00–16:00
LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUMS
EThekwini consists of 19 Local History Museums sites that are managed fully by the Municipality. They are: KwaMuhle Museum; Old Court House Museum; Old House Museum; Port Natal Maritime Museum; Bergtheil Museum; Pinetown Museum, Cato Manor Museum; Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Museum, Mpumalanga Heritage Centre; JL Dube House Museum; Phoenix Settlement Museum; Inanda Seminary Archive; Mxenge House Museum; Loram House Museum; Verulam Heritage Centre, Tongaat Museum; Ekuphakameni Shembe Interpretative Centre; Moses Mabhida Museum; and South Africa in the Making Museum.
NB: About four new sitesin the process of being managed by eThekwini Municipality. They are Mazisi Kunene Museum; Phansi Museum; Dick King House Museum; Professor Shabalala Museum; 40 Wills Street Museum.
LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUMS SITES
KwaMuhle Museum
Address: 130 Bram Fischer Road
Contacts: Steven Kotze, (031) 311-2237, steven.kotze@durban.gov.za, bongi.mnikathi@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–12:00; Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
Old Court House Museum
Address: Cnr. Samora Machel and Anton Lembede
Contacts: Steven Kotze, (031) 311-2237, steven.kotze@durban.gov.za, jenny.catin@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–12:00; Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
Old House Museum
Address: 31 Diakonia Street
Contacts: Mohau Qalaza, (031) 311-2261, mohau.qalaza@durban.gov.za, gordon.shardrack@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Closed on Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays
Port Natal Maritime Museum
Address: Bayend of Samora Machel next to BAT Centre
Contacts: (031) 322-9598, steven.kotze@durban.gov.za, zama.mkhize@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–16:00; Sunday and Public Holidays: 11:00–16:00
Bergtheil Museum
Address: 16 Queens Avenue Street, Westville
Contacts: Mohau Qalaza, (031) 266-0271 / 2954, mohau.qalaza@durban.gov.za, valencia.gushu@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–12:00; Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
Pinetown Museum
Address: Cnr. Josiah Gumede and Crompton Road, Pinetown
Contacts: Mohau Qalaza, (031) 311-6243, mohau.qalaza@durban.gov.za, anthee.ramlucken@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–12:00; Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
Cato Manor Museum (Intuthuko Junction)
Address: Cato Manor
Contacts: Maypher Mngomezulu, (031) 261-3216, maypher.mngomezulu@durban.gov.za, elizabeth.mtshali@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–12:00; Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
Verulam Heritage Centre
Address: 20 Groom Street, Verulam
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Not yet opened
Mpumalanga Heritage Centre
Address: Shezi Main Road
Contacts: Maypher Mngomezulu, (031) 322-5770, maypher.mngomezulu@durban.gov.za, bongekile.zondi@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–12:00; Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Centre
Address: 95 Dr. Goonam Street, Durban
Contacts: Maypher Mngomezulu, (031) 322-0401, maypher.mngomezulu@durban.gov.za, valerie.ndaba@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–12:00; Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
JL Dube House Museum
Address: Ohlange, Inanda
Contacts: (031) 519-1899, mandla.nxumalo@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–12:00; Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
Phoenix Settlement Museum
Address: 1205183 Bhambayi, Inanda
Contacts: Bongani Mthembu, (031) 322-2856, bongani.mthembu@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00; Saturday: 08:00–12:00; Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
Inanda Seminary Archive
Address: Inanda
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: By appointment
Mxenge House Museum
Address: Umlazi
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Not yet opened
Tongaat Museum
Address: Tongaat
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Not yet opened
Prof. Shabalala House Museum
Address: 3346 38th Avenue, Clermont
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Not yet opened
Mazisi Kunene Museum
Address: 8 Delville Avenue, Glenwood
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: By appointment
Phansi Museum
Address: 500 Esther Roberts, Glenwood
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: By appointment
Moses Mabhida Museum
Address: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: By appointment
Dick King House Museum
Address: Isipingo metro building
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Not yet opened
40 Wills Street
Address: 40 Wills Street, Durban
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Not yet opened
Cato Manor Heritage Centre
Address: Cato Manor
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Not yet opened
South Africa in the Making
Address: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: By appointment
Ekuphakameni Shembe
Address: Inanda
Contacts: Sinothi Thabethe, (031) 311-2222, sinothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: By appointment
Loram House Museum
Address: 70 Masabalala Yengwa Avenue
Contacts: Thulani Makhaye, (031) 311-4508, thulani.makhaye@durban.gov.za, faith.mpakama@durban.gov.za
Operating Hours: Not yet opened
ENTRY FEES
Entry to Local History Museums is free except at Port Natal Maritime Museum which is R5.00 adults and R3.00 children.
ACTIVITIES / PROGRAMMES
Activities and programmes that are taking place in museums are in line with culture and heritage. This is to ensure heritage conservation and that communities are educated on the importance of these heritage assets and their influence. These include:
1. Exhibitions,
2. Educational programmes,
3. Outreach programmes,
4. Seminars,
5. Book launches,
6. Lectures and debates.
PROHIBITIONS
* No weapons allowed in all museums
* No pets;
* No loitering;
* No noise;
* No alcohol consumption permitted in all museums;
* Entrance in museums is at your own risk and all rights of admission are reserved.
FOR ALL LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUMS RELATED ENQUIRIES CONTACT:
031-311 2222 OR EMAIL:
snothi.thabethe@durban.gov.za
