| Marburg | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa KwaZulu-Natal#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -30.7167°N 53°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Ugu |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Ray Nkonyeni |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Subdivision Name4: | Port Shepstone |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 1.5 |
| Population Total: | 1355 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 9.1% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 3.4% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 87.0% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 0.1% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.4% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | English |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 88.3% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Zulu |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 6.1% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | Xhosa |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 2.0% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 1.9% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 1.7% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 4252 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
Marburg is a settlement in the Ugu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, situated approximately 112 kilometres south-west of the city of Durban. Marburg was a Norwegian settlement given the name Marburg for a nearby German mission.[2] The Norwegian founders played a significant role in the development of Marburg and Port Shepstone, which it forms part of today. The British colonial government gave the settlers a free voyage to South Africa and also houses and 100 acres of land. Marburg was the only successful Scandinavian settlement in South Africa.[3]
Marburg was established in 1882 by Norwegian immigrants and was likely named after Marburg, a city 74 km north of Frankfurt in Germany.[4]
The Land and Immigration Board contemplated bringing German settlers to the Marburg area in 1881, but met opposition from the German government. Consequentially, immigration agent Walter Peace suggested promoting settlement in Marburg by Norwegians. On July 20, 1882, the first Norwegians ventured aboard the steamship Lapland for their 39-day voyage from Hull, England to Mzimkulu near Port Shepstone, South Africa. Arriving in Africa on August 28, 1882, the Norwegians were brought ashore the following day.[5] The 246 Norwegians onboard Lapland were first and foremost fishermen, but slowly adjusted to the agrarian lifestyle at their 100-acre agricultural Marburg community.[6]
Many of the original 1882 founders later left Marburg, including ten families which left for Australia.[3] However, a number remained in South Africa though not all remained in Marburg. A number joined the Norwegian community in Durban, while others went to Johannesburg and other parts near Alfred County.[7]
Emigration to South Africa from Norway in 1876-85 was dominated by emigrants from Romsdal, and more specifically, from Sunnmøre.[8] Marburg's founders were first and foremost from Ålesund in Sunnmøre.[9]
When Marburg settlers celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1932, there were twenty Norwegian families left in town. 84 original settlers were still alive, and the Norwegian community had produced 208 children, 425 grandchildren, and 130 great-grandchildren.[10]
In 1950, the Group Areas Act. racially divided Port Shepstone similar to many other towns and cities in South Africa in which Marburg was classified as the "Indian area" of Port Shepstone. Marburg was one of the four Indian proclaimed townships in the KwaZulu-Natal province and its neighbouring suburb of Merlewood to the west was classified as the "Coloured area" of Port Shepstone.
Marburg lies in a hilly area approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) west of the Port Shepstone CBD and is bounded by the N2 freeway to the east. Marburg is situated among the suburbs of Merlewood, Grosvenor, Umbango, Protea Park and Albersville.
IndustriesMarburg lies at the meeting point of three major routes (N2, R61 and R102) known as the Marburg Interchange, which includes the Oribi Toll Plaza (charging motorists on the N2 and R61 while the R102 is designated as an untolled alternative route).
Marburg is also accessed via the Main Harding Road connecting from the Port Shepstone CBD, Izotsha Road from Izotsha and Gamalakhe in the south and Oscar Borcherds Road from Protea Park and the Umzimkhulu Sugar Mill in the north.