Old Armoury

The old Armoury in Newcastle was built in Scott Street during the 1870s as a gathering place for local volunteers. This was on the advice of the British Authorities who were concerned about a possible conflict with the Zulu. The Armoury was used by the Newcastle Mounted Rifles.

The building is currently used as a Shellhole, or gathering place, for the Memorable Order of Tin Hats, or MOTHs, an organisation for ex-servicemen. One of the Armoury’s most famous visitors was Winston Churchill who, while held captive by the Boers, spent a night there on his way to Pretoria. The Armoury houses a collection of militaria and can be viewed by prior arrangement with the MOTHs; contact details from Newcastle Tourism.