Schreiner House Museum

Olive Schreiner came to Cradock at the age of 12 in 1867. She was followed by her younger brother Will, 11 years old, a year later. Olive’s elder brother Theo, was the headmaster of the public in Cradock. He hired the house at 09 Cross Street for them to stay in. Their sister Ettie (17) was the housekeeper. They stayed in this house until 1870, when Theo and Will went to seek their fortune at the diamond fields in Kimberley. Olive left Cradock but returned later to work as a governess on the farms around Cradock. This is where she wrote Story of an African Farm which was published in 1883 in England.

Olive, her husband, Samuel Cron Cronwright, their baby and dog, were buried in a sarcophagus on top of Buffelskop on the farm Buffelshoek, south of Cradock.

In the Schreiner House are Olives personal collection of books, exhibitions depicting her life and those of her siblings as well as items that belonged to her. 

The bookshop at Schreiner House sells a wide variety of books as well as her most celebrated work, The Story of an African Farm. 

Business Hours 

• Monday to Friday: 08h00 to 13h00 – 14h00 to 16h30
• Saturday: Closed (open on request) 
• Sunday: Closed (open on request)