Welcome to Newcastle Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A new entrance to Newcastle, needs a new cache. This new entrance sign was erected recently as part of an international summit to welcome Mayors and other dignitaries of Newcastle's around the world to our town.
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. In 1873 Newcastle became a separate electoral division. To commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond (60th) Jubilee a sandstone construction of a town hall started in 1897, being 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 late 19th century.
British preparation work for the Pretoria Convention of 1881 was done at Newcastle.
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.
Newcastle was also a strategic town in the Anglo-Boer war, featuring prominently in both the Boer and English defense. Coal was discovered in the district in the late 1800's, but the Newcastle ’s original industry was washing and spinning wool from sheep, which are farmed in the area. Steel furnaces dominate the town today as well as coal related industries.
The local Indian population have erected what is reputed to be the largest domed Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq gur uvturfg bs gur fgbarf ba yrsg