The Magaliesberg Association for Culture and Heritage (MACH) unveiled the MACH Museum at Harties Lodge in Meerhof last week.

The MACH Museum opened at Harties Lodge last wekeend.

The goals of the museum are essentially the same as those of MACH: To protect the Magaliesberg heritage and to convey knowledge to as many people as possible. The museum will particularly focus on informing school learners in the Hartbeespoort area about the Magaliesberg heritage,” said Derick van Rooyen.
Derick and Mike Benn had the idea for the museum. MACH builds on the work of Vincent Carruthers, who carefully researched and documented many different aspects of Magaliesberg’s history. Vincent’s work is particularly evident in his books The Magaliesberg and The Cradle of Life.
MACH’s activities include regular monthly meetings with speakers about various aspects of Magaliesberg’s history and heritage, placement of Blue Plaques, internationally recognised symbols marking sites of historical importance, and visits to historical sites.
The first phase of the MACH Museum involved the placement of eight information panels dealing with different periods of Magaliesberg’s history. This includes hunter-gatherers, also known as the San, Early Iron Age, Tswana communities of the Magaliesberg region, arrival of the Matabele in 1827, early European visitors to the Magaliesberg region, arrival of the Voortrekkers in 1837, First Anglo-Boer War of 1880-1881, and the South African War (also known as the Second Anglo-Boer War) of 1899-1902.
“We are very pleased with the opening of the museum. We will also have a display of remarkable Early Iron Age artefacts from the Toppieshoek archaeological site. Vincent Carruthers has put together a wonderful exhibition with information boards explaining the significance of the artefacts, which include many pottery fragments and other items from the daily life of the people,” he said.
“If heritage is to be preserved, it is vitally important that each new generation is made aware of the importance and value of that heritage.”
For more information, contact 076 724 8952.