Once a courthouse, the Old Court House is the oldest public building in the central business district. It was loop-holed during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.
About the museum
The museum occupies Durban's most senior historical structure and has served multiple purposes throughout its existence, including courtroom, recruitment centre and library — and now as the city's primary history museum, featuring two exhibition floors.
Exhibitions
Visitors can explore both conventional and thematic exhibitions, with permanent ground-floor displays including a recently acquired items section and the Lipchitz miniature automobile collection.
The first floor features walk-in reconstructions representing different historical periods: a reconstruction of Henry Francis Fynn's wattle and daub cottage, made out of the very same materials used by the settlers in the 1830s, plus a sugar mill, Miss Fann's repository shop, and an Edwardian pharmacy from 1907. The "Movers and Shakers" presentation showcases figures such as Albert Luthuli and Mohandas Gandhi.
An active research archive serves learners, academics and the public seeking deeper historical investigation.
Visitor information
Address: 77 Samora Machel Street, Durban
Hours: Monday–Friday 08:30–16:00; Saturday 08:30–12:30. Closed Sundays & Public Holidays.
Admission: Free
Facilities: Lecture room (40 capacity), accessible restrooms, baby changing stations, ramp access, lift