The name "Killrush" originates from the sentries that were placed nearby on three peaks surrounding the area.

One could see as far as three days horse-ride from the lookouts and thus enabled the soldiers preparation time for any attack that might occur. They were then able to rush up to the enemy and kill them.

After a year of being known as "Nomansland", EG was finally annexed by the Cape Colony on 1 st October 1879. This led to a large influx of people into the area.

The first owner of Killrush was Donald Strachan. He played a key role in the negotiations with the indigenous peoples. He had huge investments in farms and trading stores.

One of the great characters who arrived in the area was Frederick Johnson Hayward or "Bull" as he was known because of his size. He arrived in South Africa in 1889 and bought tmischief, Hayward organized a party the night priorhe farm Killrush and built a house on the farm.

During the war in 1898 the Cape Mounted Rifles (consisting mostly of Scotsmen) were stationed on Killrush. They built four barracks.

Today the farm seems to be quite remote, but a hundred years ago this area of Swartberg was well populated and “Indawana” passed through the farm to Natal Weekly deliveries arrived on the farm by ox-wagon.

Hayward made sure that Killrush was a place of activity and entertainment. He built a tennis court and swimming pool in the garden and started a public library known as the Killrush Public Library. In addition to that he ran an illicit still, keeping someone on guard to give warning in advance of the authorities arriving. On one occasion a policeman hoping to catch Hayward and make an arrest hid behind a large rock to spy on his activities. Fred and his good friends got wind of this and they deliberately organized target practice, aiming at the very same rock that the policeman was sheltered behind.

When Hayward started building his tennis court he went into the sneezewood forests to cut timber poles. This was illegal and the forrester must have been suspicious of something illegal being carried out and brought the remaining stumps to Killrush where they were matched up to the poles being used for the construction of the tennis court.

On the strong evidence that these were the same trees that had been felled, Hayward was charged and duly summoned to Umzimkulu to answer the charges.

Never being one to miss the opportunity for some to the trial. When the evidence was submitted before court the next day all that could be found were a few stumps from wattle trees. The case was dismissed and Hayward completed the tennis court.

When one experiences 1880 at Killrush Hotel very many more incredible and hilarious stories of the time come to light.

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