Local History Museum

About Local History Museum

The Local History Museum, also known as the Old Court House Museum, is located at 77 Samora Machel Street in Durban Central, Durban. Operating as the oldest public building in the city's central business district, the double-story heritage structure was originally built in 1866 and served as a municipal court, a loop-holed defensive stronghold during the Anglo-Zulu War, and a military recruitment centre during the World Wars.

Today, it functions as a public educational institution housing chronological exhibits on the cultural development and colonial history of the KwaZulu-Natal region, featuring early fashion collections, lifelike historical dioramas, and specialized galleries dedicated to notable South African figures like journalist Nat Nakasa. The venue accommodates visitors with wheelchair-accessible entrances and on-site parking, operating from Monday to Friday (08:30 – 16:00) and Saturdays (08:30 – 12:30), while remaining closed on Sundays and public holidays.