The place where cultures meet
The Bartolomeu Dias museum complex was officially opened on 3 February 1989, however the Mossel Bay museum industry can be traced back to the 1960s when the Mossel Bay museum was first opened. The museum later became known as the Post Tree Museum complex before being renamed again in 1989.
The Dias Museum Complex is situated near the beach, shops, restaurants, banks and the tourist information center. Inside the Maritime Museum is a live size replica of the 1488 Bartolomeu Dias Caravel. It was built for the 1988 500-year commemoration of Dias’s voyage around the southern tip of Africa. There is also a shop where postcards, stamps, books, souvenirs and small gifts can be bought. Whales can be observed from the museum grounds during June to November.
The Granary
The Granary was built by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1788 after a record wheat harvest.
This is the main Reception/information area and exhibitions of the surrounding areas.
A live specimen table with examples of plants and flowers found in the Mossel Bay area on display in the granary.
The Shell Museum
The Shell Museum and Aquarium houses the largest exhibit about molluscs in Africa. There are some live molluscs and other small aquatic animals on exhibit in aquariums in this building.
This structure was erected in 1902 next to the Post Office Tree as an extension to the old mill and was mainly used as a store. In later years Mr. Joe Shirley used the building for his plumbing business, after which it became known as the Shirley Building.
The Post Tree
Pedro D’Ataide’s ship, part of Pedro Alvares Cabral’s third fleet, became separated from the other ships along the east African coast in 1500. D’Ataide landed at the “watering place of São Brás” (present-day Mossel Bay). He left a letter in a Portuguese sailor’s shoe tied to a tree here.
It was declared a provincial heritage site. In 1963, the local tourism organisation placed a large post box, shaped like a sailor’s boot, next to the tree where visitors can post letters and postcards. A special frank is used on all outgoing mail to commemorate the fact that South Africa’s first post office was a tree.
Ethno – Botanical Garden
This is a collection of plants that occur naturally in the Mossel Bay area and which were used by the Khoi, San, Coloured, Xhosa and European settlers for shelter, food and medicinal purposes as well as for magic and superstitious beliefs.  The Braille trail makes it accessible to visually-impaired people so that they can read about, feel and smell the wonderful collection.
The Fountain – Dias Museum
Dias named the fresh-water spring “Aguada de São Bras” (watering place of St Blaize). In 1512, Gaspar Correa, described it as flowing over a rocky verge into a small dam. The spring still flows today.
The Munrohoek Cottages
The cottages at Munro Bay were built in 1830 by Alexander Munro, a retired Scottish soldier and shoemaker. It cost him £25 to build them on land that he had leased from the Cape government and would own by 1835. At the time the cottages were built, the town of Mossel Bay was only beginning to expand/develop with its first commercial buildings being built from 1820.
The Malay Graves
These two Muslim graves, uncovered in 1926, are believed to be that of Muslim Saints (Sheikh Abdurahman Sayed Al Mujahedeen) who died in Mossel Bay on route to Batavia (present-day Jakarta) around 1864. The graves face north towards Mecca.
