Goetz Fleischack Museum

About Goetz Fleischack Museum

Potchefstroom is the gateway of the North West, a massive South African province that has a unique beauty of its own. This academic town is full of character, celebrating a long heritage that has imbued it with an unforgettable quality. And it is within this setting that the Goetz Fleischack Museum can be discovered and enjoyed.

This museum was established in 1985 in an original townhouse that dates back to around the mid-1800’s. In fact, this was one of the first of these townhouses to be built around the New Market Square. Today, it still has the old shutters, inside doors and ceilings made of yellowwood, as well as the original peach stone floors in the kitchen and pantry. This is characteristic of the Karoo elegance of yesteryear. Renovations have restored the quality, beauty, and Victorian influence of the museum for a really authentic experience. It was named after the town’s magistrate, Andreas Marthinus Goetz, and A.R. Fleischack, who was a leading attorney in the 19th century.

The Goetz Fleischack Museum was declared a national monument in 1984 and is a popular spot for visitors and locals alike. Guided tours are available so that visitors are transported into the Potchefstroom and South Africa of 150 years ago, when life marched on at a different pace and new discoveries were being made all the time in terms of industry, travel and communication. Entrance to the museum is free, which means that this is an excellent option for families on a budget or school groups.

Potchefstroom is only about 1.5 hours’ drive from Johannesburg (home to a major international airport), and two hours from Pretoria.