The Bartolomeu Dias museum complex

.  The Mossel Bay museum was first opened in the 1960s. The museum later became known as the Post Tree Museum Complex. In 1989. The Museum Complex was launched on 3 February 1989 and called The Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex.

The Bartolomeu Dias museum complex consists of:

• The Granary

Here you can see examples of plants found in the Mossel Bay area

• The Shell Museum

Erected in 1902, next to the Post Office Tree, as an extension to the old mil,l this was mainly used as a store.

• The Post Tree

In 1500, Pedro de Ataide, Commander of one of Cabral’s ships, on his return journey from the east, left a letter of importance in a shoe or iron pot under or near a large tree.The report was found by the explorer to whom it was addressed — João da Nova — and the tree served as a sort of post office for decades thereafter. (More recently, a boot-shaped post box has been erected under the now famous Post Office Tree. João da Nova erected a small shrine near the Post Office Tree, and although no traces of it remain, it is considered the first place of Christian worship in South Africa

• Botanical Garden

The Braille trail makes it accessible to visually-impaired people so that they can read about, feel and smell the wonderful collection.

• The Fountain

Dias named the freshwater spring “Aguada de São Bras” (watering place of St Blaize).

• The Munrohoek Cottages

The first building was built around 1830 by Alexander Munro from Scotland for £25.

• The Malay Graves

This site was discovered in 1968, not far from the Post Office Tree.

• The Field Garden

The valley and beach adjacent to the museum complex is today known as Munro’s Bay.

1 Market Street, Mossel Bay,

Museum website

info@diasmuseum.co.za