Simon’s Town began its life in 1680 as an anchorage for the Dutch East India Company. Not long after, Malays – the generic term used in 1680 to describe anyone from the Muslim east – were brought as political exiles or slaves to South Africa by the Company.

The Amlays, a Muslim family, built Amlay House in 1858 here in Simon’s Town. Unfortunately, during the Apartheid era, the town was declared a white group area on 1 September 1967 under the Group Areas Act by the Nationalist Government. The family, and more than 7000 other people, were removed in 1975. They were the first of the former residents to return in 1995 when the new era of democracy began. They were lucky enough to be able to claim back their home.

One of the family, Zainab Davidson, trained in museum curation by the Simon’s Town Museum, turned part of Amlay House into The Heritage Museum.

Today, the exhibits celebrate much about the history and culture of the Cape Malay. It has truly been a community endeavour. Family, friends and people from Simon’s Town, anyone in fact, who had memories of Simon’s Town before the removals contributed photographs, newspaper clippings and oral stories. Thanks to the Nooral Islam Historical Society, Simon's Town Heritage Museum opened its doors on 26 July 1998. It has been called one of the most authentic, local, and character-filled museums in Cape Town and is well worth a visit.

Here you can learn more about the early residents of Simon’s Town, the Cape Malay heritage, and the intricacies of Muslim culture, cuisine, religious ceremonies, family life and traditions.

Of special interest are the exhibits related to a Muslim wedding reminiscent of old Simon’s Town culture, replete with all the ornamentation down to a trousseau. The second room contains a dining room scene depicting a wedding feast. The bruidskamer, or bridal room is not to be missed.

The museum’s collection of photographs, newspaper clippings, kitabs and different kinds of drums used in religious celebrations, as well as artefacts, photographs of years gone by, ornaments, clothes, mannequins with their traditional wear show Muslim life, and that of Indians and Blacks, through the years in Simon’s Town. Life that includes weddings, the Haj Pilgrimage to Mecca, schools, shopkeepers, and social life before the forced removals.

The depth of history kept here includes the burial records of the Dido Valley and Seaforth cemeteries to assist people in tracing their family history.