Melmoth
When the British Government annexed Zululand in 1887, several magistracies were established. One of which was named Melmoth after the resident Commissioner and Chief Magistrate of the country, Sir Melmoth Osborn. The high hill country surrounding the village was discovered to be ideal for growing trees, particularly wattle. In 1926 a factory was established in Melmoth to process the bark of the wattle trees to make a tanning extract. The village is now a trading centre for a considerable timber industry for tanning extracts and paper-making material. The economy of the town and district is still largely dependent on the wattle bark and trees.
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