Newcastle

Newcastle, town, northwestern KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. It lies at the foot of the Drakensberg mountains. The fourth British settlement in Natal, it was founded in 1864 as a regional trade centre. Fighting occurred in the vicinity during both the First Boer War (1881) and the South African War (1899–1902). Newcastle has long been known for its coal mining and steel production. The town is on the main road and rail lines between Durban and Johannesburg. Pop. (2001) town, 57,572; mun., 332,980.