Old Colonial Building, Pietermaritzburg

KwaZulu Natal Tourist Attractions

Old Colonial Building, Pietermaritzburg

Part of Pietermaritzburg’s colonial history lies in the proud Old Colonial Building, which has stood on Church Street since 1899. The colonnaded front facade was completed in 1901 and was home to various government offices over the years. The design of the building is attributed to William Henry Powell, who won the princely sum of £100 for its design back in 1894. The foundation stone was laid in 1887 and Powell died in 1900, before the building was completed.

The building boasts beautiful architecture and a bronze statue of activist Mahatma Gandhi outside the building, in commemoration of the incident of 1893 when he was evicted from a first class carriage at Pietermaritzburg railway station. In the late 1990s a contract was awarded to renovate the building, which had been vandalised by thieves stealing copper sheeting from the roof, the cast-iron Victorian fire places and tons of lead lining from the toilets.

In June 2009 an unfortunate fire caused extensive damage to the building, which was being renovated to house the offices of the master of the court.

Old Colonial Building

Accommodation nearby

For accommodation nearby see:
• Pietermaritzburg Accommodation
• Pietermaritzburg Hotels
• Pietermaritzburg Guest Houses
• Pietermaritzburg Bed & Breakfast
• Pietermaritzburg Self Catering

Or to see all accommodation in this region, visit Natal Midlands Accommodation.

Attractions / Activities nearby

Burger Street Jail

The Burger Street Jail was closed in 1989 and sections of the jail are open today for tours. The building is now run by Project Gateway, a Christian self-help project, and features a craft shop and coffee shop. The original jail was built in 1862, replacing the Voortrekker jail on market square in Pietermaritzburg. It is one of the ... more information

Visiting Old Colonial Building?
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destinations / attractions in kwazulu natal