Things To Do in BallitoVisit the Morewood Memorial Garden
Monuments Parks & Gardens Dolphin Coast
Where? Compensation, just outside of Ballito, Dolphin Coast.
When? 09h00 to 17h00.
How? Call +27 (0)32 946-1997
How much? Price on request
Overnight? Stay at accommodation in Ballito, in KwaZulu Natal
Just outside the holiday hotspot of Ballito, in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, the life and work of Sir Edmund Morewood are celebrated and memorialised. This part of the country is known as the Dolphin Coast, and is frequented by locals and by international tourists that want the summer sun and sand of Africa within close proximity to the big metropolis of Durban.
The Morewood Memorial Garden was established in Compensation to pay respect to the father of the sugar industry in South Africa, Sir Edmund Morewood. This man was responsible for growing the first ever commercial cane in the country in 1851, from which he produced the first sugar on South African soils. He established a rather basic factory to carry on production of this popular crop. The site of this factory is now the foundation of the memorial garden in his honour.
The garden’s pond was built on the old millpond, which provided the water needed to run the sugar factory. Today, it is a serene site that testifies to this man’s hard work and dedication.
The hexagonal foundations of the original storeroom have been preserved for the enjoyment of visitors that want to envision Morewood’s operation. There are also the remnants of the original factory, complete with its old fireplace still intact.
Due to the Morewood Memorial Gardens’ being situated in the fairly remote sugar cane fields of the region, they are best visited in a group.
In recognition of the importance and impact of Sir Edmund Morewood’s work on the industrial sector of South Africa, the memorial gardens have been declared a National Monument.
