Millwood House Museum - Knysna, Garden Route
The Millwood House Museum, located in Knysna, serves as a fascinating window into the town's rich history, particularly its association with the timber and gold rush industries of the 19th century. The museum takes its name from Millwood, a historic gold-mining town located in the forested hills near Knysna. When the gold rush dwindled, several structures from Millwood were dismantled, and the iconic Millwood House was relocated to Knysna in the early 1900s to preserve its heritage.
Today, the museum offers an extensive collection of exhibits detailing Knysna's history, including artifacts, photographs, and documents that recount its maritime and timber industries, as well as the lives of early settlers and the indigenous Khoi and San people. The museum also highlights the ecology of the region, particularly the Knysna forest and its iconic elephants.
Visitors can explore various themed rooms, each dedicated to a specific aspect of Knysna’s past. Displays include relics from the gold rush, maritime artifacts related to the Knysna Lagoon, and historical furniture reflecting the Victorian era. The museum also features information about the legendary Knysna elephants, which are deeply tied to the region's cultural and ecological narrative.
Contact details for the Millwood House Museum:
Address: Queen Street, Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa
Phone: +27 (0)44 302 6320
Email: see website
Website: https://www.knysnamuseums.co.za
Visiting Hours: Typically open Monday to Friday; check ahead for exact times
Nearby Towns
- ▸ Knysna Central (0.3km)
- ▸ Knysna (0.6km)
- ▸ Costa Sarda, Knysna (0.8km)
- ▸ Westhill, Knysna (1.1km)
- ▸ Thesen Island, Knysna (1.4km)
- ▸ Heuwelkruin, Knysna (1.4km)
- ▸ Paradise, Knysna (1.5km)
- ▸ Flenters, Knysna (1.5km)
- ▸ Old Place, Knysna (1.8km)
- ▸ Knysna Heights (2km)
- ▸ Kanonkop, Knysna (2.7km)
- ▸ Fisher Haven, Knysna (2.8km)
- ▸ Brenton, Knysna (3.4km)
- ▸ Leisure Island (3.4km)
- ▸ Hunters Home, Knysna (3.5km)
Nearby Points Of Interest
- ▸ The Waterfront Knysna Quays - Knysna, Garden Route (0.66km)
- ▸ Knysna Oyster Festival - Garden Route (0.78km)
- ▸ Pledge Nature Reserve - Knysna, Garden Route (0.8km)
- ▸ Knysna National Lake Area - Knysna, Garden Route (2.31km)
- ▸ Knysna Lagoon - Knysna, Garden Route (2.37km)
- ▸ Simola Hillclimb, Knysna Speed Festival - Knysna, Garden Route (3.03km)
- ▸ Knysna Golf Club - Knysna, Garden Route (3.13km)
- ▸ Simola Golf Course - Knysna, Garden Route (3.78km)
- ▸ Knysna Heads - Knysna, Garden Route (4.77km)
- ▸ Pezula Golf Club & Championship Course - Knysna, Garden Route (5.09km)
- ▸ Featherbed Private Nature Reserve - Knysna, Garden Route (5.13km)
- ▸ Noetzie Beach - nr Knysna, Garden Route (8.5km)
- ▸ Goukamma Nature Reserve - Buffels Bay, Garden Route (11.95km)
- ▸ Prince Alfred's Pass - nr Knysna, Garden Route, Western Cape (13.13km)
- ▸ Outeniqua Hiking Trail - Garden Route, Western Cape (13.76km)
- ▸ Homtini Pass - between George and Knysna, Garden Route (15.68km)
- ▸ Harkerville Trail - between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay (17.15km)
- ▸ Groenvlei Lake (Lake Pleasant) - Sedgefield, Garden Route (18.18km)
- ▸ Garden Route Wolf Sanctuary - Harkerville, Plettenberg Bay (18.88km)