Richmond

Richmond

Richmond is situated in the picturesque hills of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and is flanked by the Illovo River.

The original settlers came from Beaulieu, the seat of the Duke of Buccleuch in Richmond. As a result of difficulties in pronunciation, the town was renamed Richmond.

There are historically noteworthy buildings and is the centre of a farming district that is principally engaged in dairy, stock, timber and sugar cane.

The nearby Highover Nature Reserve which is a privately owned natural heritage site, nestled in the scenic Umkomazi Gorgeis a popular birding destination, with over 100 recorded species.

In this area, Game Valley Estates offers hunting and photographic safaris amongst warthog, wildebeest and antelope. Near the town is Beaulieu Dam, used for picnicking and watersports. The Qunu Forest Reserve contains the 80m Qunu ('thunder') Falls.

The Richmond, Byrne and District Museum, which was built as the Presbyterian manse in 1882 has many interesting artefacts. Other building of historic interest include the St Mary's Anglican Church constructed in 1856, The Freemason's Lodge completed in the late 1800's and Bombay House which was built in 1902. The Old Court House built in the 1860's is now the home of the town's Publicity and Information offices, and the former prison cells have been transformed into a series of shops in an Old Type Mall.

One of Natal's greatest tycoons, Joseph Baynes, a Yorkshireman by birth, was a pioneer of the dairy industry. His Baynesfield Estate was bequeathed in his will to the nation of South Africa.