in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Newcastle is a town in north-west KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, on the Ncandu River. It is moderately industrial. The town started off life as Post Halt Two on the journey between Durban (then Port Natal and the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek and Johannesburg.The town was strategically placed in 1854 by the Surveyor General of the Natal Colony, Dr PC Sutherland. The town was later known as the Waterfall River Township because of the Ncandu River. In 1864, the town of Newcastle was founded on the site, becoming the fourth town to be established in Natal after Durban, Weenen and Pietermaritzburg. Newcastle was named after the British Colonial Secretary, the Duke of Newcastle. In 1870 the Fort Amiel was built to ward off the Zulus. To commemorate Queen Victoria's Silver (60^th) Jubilee a sandstone town hall was built in 1897, but was only completed two years later. The town was used as a depot by the British during both the First and Second Boer War. Newcastle functioned as a major transport junction and popular stopover for wagons and post chaises during the second half of the 1800s. In 1890, the first train arrived in Newcastle. In 1891, Newcastle was declared a borough. The discovery of coal brought a new era of prosperity and several ambitious building projects were planned.

The upper part of the Drakensberg mountain range curls along the West side of the town. A large proportion of the population lives in Madadeni Township in the south-western part. The N11 is the principal road running through it.

Municipality

Newcastle is the seat of the local municipality by the same name as well as being the seat to the Amajuba District Municipality.

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