Morewood memorial garden closed

The Morewood Memorial Garden in Compensation, a landmark national monument for over 60 years, has been closed to the public.

Public indifference to it as a historical site and use of the remote gardens for riotous partying have forced the SA Sugar Association to remove the replica of South Africa’s first commercial sugar mill and lock the gates.

The garden, on the Compensation Flats near the microlight airfield, was established by SASA in 1951 as it was the site of the country’s first commercial sugar mill, to pay respect to the father of the sugar industry in South Africa, Sir Edmund Morewood. He was responsible for growing the first ever commercial cane in the country in 1851, using seed cane imported from Reunion island. He established a very basic factory to carry on production of this popular crop.

Executive Director of the South African Sugar Association, Trix Trikam, told the Courier that while historians have found it an interesting site to go to, it was not being visited by the public for its historical interest.

“The site has never had any other attractions such as a coffee shop or jungle gyms. It was there to commemorate the start of the sugar industry and mark history,” he said.

The replica of the first sugar mill was removed from the gardens and given a new indoor home at SASA headquarters, KwaShukela, in Mount Edgecombe.

“This has been an exciting development because far more people now see the early sugar mill, including many school pupils and visitors. In addition being indoors it is protected from the elements and potential vandalism when it was at the garden site.”

Trikam said the gardens would continue to be maintained, but would be closed to the public.