During the 1870's, with the threat of war with Zululand looming the colonial authorities advised the towns of the colony to provide some form of defence for their townsfolk, which led to the construction of Newcastle's Armoury.

The Newcastle Armoury was used as the gathering point of the local volunteers, the Newcastle Mounted Rifles, and has continued to provide a home and a gathering place for local volunteers and service men. One of the more interesting people to "visit" the armoury was a young Winston Churchill who spent a night here as a prisoner of the Boer Forces in 1899.

Presently, it is the home of the MOTHS and houses an interesting and informative collection of military memorabilia. Anyone wishing to visit the place should contact "Bim" Philpott on 034 318 7176.