The Post Office Tree in Mossel Bay, located along South Africa’s scenic Garden Route, is a historical and cultural landmark with deep roots in the country's maritime history. Situated at the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, the tree is believed to be more than 500 years old and played a pivotal role in early maritime communication during the Age of Exploration.
In 1500, a Portuguese navigator named Pedro de Ataíde, after surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Mozambique, left an important letter for João da Nova, another explorer, under this large Milkwood tree. Ataíde placed the letter in an old shoe and hung it from the tree, warning of troubled waters and hostile conditions up north. When da Nova's fleet arrived at Mossel Bay, they found the letter, which allowed them to avoid the dangers mentioned in Ataíde's note. This act of leaving letters under the tree became a tradition for sailors, making the Post Office Tree South Africa's first "post office."
Today, the Post Office Tree is marked by a boot-shaped postbox, where visitors can send letters and postcards with a special commemorative stamp, making it a symbolic and functional part of South African history. The tree stands within the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, which houses several historical exhibitions, including a full-scale replica of the ship used by Bartolomeu Dias, the Portuguese explorer who landed in Mossel Bay in 1488, as well as artifacts related to the region's early explorers.
The tree remains an important tourist attraction and symbol of the early postal system in South Africa. Visitors can explore the tree's history as part of the museum visit and learn about the broader significance of Mossel Bay in maritime exploration.
Contact Details for Post Office Tree (Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex):
Address: 1 Market St, Mossel Bay, 6506, Western Cape, South Africa
Phone: +27 (0) 44 691 1067
Email: see website
Website: https://diasmuseum.co.za
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