Great Fish River Museum and Schreiner House, Cradock
The Great Fish River Museum and Schreiner House in Cradock are two museums housed in Heritage buildings that offer insight’s into the Afrikaner Settler heritage of the Karoo Heartland.
The Great Fish River Museum is housed in the old Dutch Reformed Church parsonage – a stunningly beautiful old church that is national monument, and dates back to 1849. Exhibits show the history and life of pioneer settlers in the Eastern Cape in 1806 through antique furniture, ceramics and photographs.
For more information: Tel: (048) 881-4509 (no website)
Getting there: The Great Fish River Museum is located at 87 High Street in Cradock
Schreiner House is run by Grahamstown’s National English Literary Museum and is a typical example of a 19th century Karoo house. It highlights the life and works of the famous South African writer and feminist, Olive Schreiner, who is has been described as the founder of the South African novel, and who lived here from 1867 to 1870. A bookshop at the Museum also sells copies of her works.
Olive Schreiner is laid to rest with her baby, her husband and her dog on a farm 15km south of Cradock, in a sarcophagus mound above a valley that is reminiscent of the Karoo farm that inspired her ground-breaking novel ‘The Story of an African Farm’.
For more information: Tel: ((048) 881-5251 (no website)
Getting there: Schreiner House is located at 9 Cross Street in Cradock
In true small town style, the above museums are not open on Sundays, and also close for lunch during the week. The Olive Schreiner House is also closed on Saturdays. It’s best to call to check opening and closing times.
| More info on the town of Cradock | More info on the Karoo Heartland area |
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