The museum consist of three sections – the Independent Church, the Old Parsonage and the Old Coach House, all on the same property.
The Independent Church now houses artefacts salvaged from shipwrecks along the once dangerous Overberg coast. It is the only museum of its kind in South Africa, and the memorabilia range from cannon and figureheads to chinaware, coins, salvaged furniture, skulls, brass telescopes, fascinating navigational instruments, exotic coins and superb china and ceramic ware. From the 120 shipwrecks recorded to date, some of the notable wrecks include Zoetendal – 1673 Joanna – 1682 Nostra Senhora de los Milagros – 1686 Schoenenberg – 1722 Nicobar – 1783 Arniston – 1815 Queen of the Thames – 1871 La Lisa – 1840 The Birkenhead – 1852 Oriental Pioneer – 1974. The renowned author from Bredasdorp, Audrey Blignaut, has a room in her honour, within the museum, which contains furniture and other bric-a-brac.
The Old Parsonage is a typical ‘strandveldhuis’ (Overberg home) and is furnished with articles salvaged along the coast. Here too, in safe-keeping, is a collection of newspaper cuttings and other trivia about shipwrecks.
The Old Coach House houses Cape carts, a skotch cart, two horse drawn hand built hearses and a splendid old fire engine.
Find the museum at 6 Independent Street, Bredasdorp.
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