Church Square

Sunshine Coast


Grand colonial edifices, university buildings, the 19th-century Anglican cathedral and colourful Victorian and Edwardian shopfronts all overlook this square. Good examples of the latter are the Grocott’s Mail building, the original home of South Africa's oldest independent newspaper, and the neighbouring Clicks pharmacy.

Birch’s has a marvellously old-fashioned ‘slider’ (a pulley system that sends money and change across the ceiling to and from the central till) and a vacuum pipe system used to send notes between floors. Staff will demonstrate the slider if you ask nicely.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sunshine Coast attractions

1. Grocott’s Mail

0.04 MILES

Grocott’s Mail is one of Grahamstown's best examples of a preserved historic shopfront. It still houses a working newspaper office.

2. Birch’s Gentlemen’s Outfitters

0.09 MILES

Birch’s is one of a number of historic shopfronts overlooking Church Sq. It has a marvellously old-fashioned ‘slider’ (a pulley system that sends money…

3. Albany Natural Science Museum

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Covers a mishmash of subjects, from early human history to astronomy. The collection includes some impressive taxidermy and skeletons.

4. Albany History Museum

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This great museum details the history and art of the peoples of the Eastern Cape, including the Xhosa and 1820 Settlers, with some beautiful beadwork and…

5. International Library of African Music

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There are 200 or so instruments to examine here – you can listen to field recordings and try to emulate what you’ve heard on nyanga (pan) pipes from…

7. 1820 Settlers National Monument

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This monument to the hardy British settlers and their contributions to South Africa has stupendous views of the surrounding countryside, and contains…

8. National English Literary Museum

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Housed in a snazzy building on the outskirts of town, this museum contains South African manuscripts, first editions and works dating back to 1797, with…