O'Neils Cottage in Newcastle is the sight of negotiations undertaken between the British and the Boers, after the Battle of Majuba. The old stone building belonged to R.C O'Neil, and the treaty which was signed there brought an end to the First War of Independance which took place between 1880 and 1881.

The cottage was built around 1870 by a Roman Catholic named P.A. Hayward de Bary which is why a white cross appears on the front gable. The cottage was later bought by a Mr O'Neil, who had previously lived in Graaff-Reniet. In 1878 the house was transferred to O'Neils brother, R.C O'Neil who was living in it at the time of the Battle of Amajuba. During the war the home doubled as a makeshift hospital, and three wounded troops who died there, lie buried in the orchard nearby.

On the night of 26 February Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley troops started their climb up Amajuba mountain just a short distance behind the cottage. After the defeat of the British and the death of Colley at the battle of Amajuba, Sir Evelyn Wood agreed to a cease-fire with Boer commander with General Piet Joubert on the 6th of March. On the 15th of March Paul Kruger, and a number of other other Transvaal leaders arrived at the Boer camp which was situated at Laing's Neck. On the 20th of March President J.H. Brand of the Orange Free State joined the negotiations as an arbitrator. At the invitation of Sir Evelyn Woods, the talks were held at O'Neil's Cottage. The Transvaal was represented by President Paul Kruger, and a list of other well known historical figures, which included General Piet Joubert, D.C. ("Swart Dirk") Uys, M.W. Pretorius and others. The British team consisted of Sir Evelyn Wood, Major Fraser, Major Clarke, as well as Lieutenant Hamilton and others. Orange Free State's President Brand was present throughout the proceedings.

The meeting took place in the front room on the east side of O'Neil's Cottage, and at certain points of the negotiations only members of government participated while others were sent out. At other times the Boer leaders held informal consultations outside on the verandah. No full minutes of the meetings were kept, and the talks resulted in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek regaining its independence,

The meetings were held in the front room on the east side of the building. At times all except members of the government were sent out, and at other times the Boer leaders held informal consultations outside on the verandah. No full minutes of the discussions were kept. At the end of the meeting the regained its independence although it was agreed that Britain would control the boer republic in international affairs, but allow it domestic sovereignty for the time being. The meeting of the group gathered around the table in the front room, forms the subject of one of the panels by the sculptor Anton van Wouw on the base of the Kruger statue on Church Square, Pretoria.