Scottburgh laid out in 1860, the first township south of Durban, and named after Sir John Scott, Lt-gov of Natal (KwaZulu-Natal). It was used as a port for the export of sugar and also had a fishing fleet based there for fishing on the Aliwal Shoal. Crookes Bros, the oldest family business in KwaZulu-Natal established in 1913 by the sons of Samuel Crookes (who came from Finningley just inside Yorshire though Finningley Proper was across the County line in Nottinghamshire, England) in 1860. Joseph Landers from the same County in England, arrived the same year and started cane farming in the area. The Mpambanyoni River, “confuser of birds” runs into what is known as Scott Bay. King Shaka, the Zulu King named most of the rivers on the South Coast and there is a plaque below the water slide in Scottburgh where he often drank from the fresh water spring. The district saw the beginnings of some of the first sugar planting and sugar mills. The pioneers have left us with a fascinating and rich heritage. Their experiences make very interesting reading and houses such as Beneva and Cedars are beautiful reminders of the old sugar barons. There is a graveyard on the Enqueefa Estate where Jane Arbuthnott, members of her family and the Hawkswoths lie buried in a lonely sugar cane field. They were settlers from Scotland, settling in the area around 1856 and started one of the first mills in the district
- Green Point Lighthouse is 100 years old (a National Monument )and overlooks the Aliwal Shoal. It is utilized for shipping navigational purposes. Two white flashes occur every 13 seconds and a red subsidary light indicating the zone for Aliwal Shoal..
Perhaps take a stroll around the Lighthouse (no entry inside the Lighthouse) – however contact details must be obtained from our Office as an appointment should be made before entry at the gate
- Renishaw Church
- Slayley Woods – Beautiful gardens can be visited by arrangement on 039-9760456. These gardens are open to the public at certain times. Visited by the Durban Philamonic Orchestra and Performing artists who give shows from time to time
Park Rynie named by John Hofman who was a partner in the firm that bought the original farm in 1858. He named the place after his wife Catherine Renatta whom he nicknamed Rynie. At Rocky Bay the remains of a stone pier can be seen, a relic of the whaling station.
Umkomaas named by King Shaka on his way to raid the Pondos in 1828 when he sat at the river mouth and watched the birth of a whale calf. He named it Mkomahzi, the place of whales. It was once a harbour for the export of sugar in the 1860’s.
Pennington named after the Pennington family who started farming there in the late 1800’s. Portion of their land was sold to sugar baron, Sir Frank Reynolds, who built Botha House for the use of South Africa’s prime ministers and named after General Louis Botha the first occupant. The glass and cutlery in Botha House was purchased from Harrods in London.
Umdoni Golf Course The original owner Richard Pennington was mauled by a leopard on the 17th green before 1920.
Sezela The name means “he who smells out” referring to a wily crocodile that had killed a number of the Malangeni Tribe. King Shaka heard of the crocodile and on one of his Pondo raids decided that he wanted it’s skin and his warriors found and killed it.