November 8, 1922 - 2nd September 2001

" ... for a dying person, a transplant is not a difficult decision. If a lion chases you to a river filled with crocodiles, you will leap into the water convinced you have a chance to swim to the other side. But you would never accept such odds if there were no lion." Christiaan Barnard, heart transplant pioneer

Professor Chris Barnard, who performed the first heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town on December 3rd 1967, was born in Beaufort West.

He is honoured in three historic buildings - all national monuments - which make up the Beaufort West Museum.

The Pastorie:

Here visitors can see Professor Barnard's humble boyhood home and visit the garden in which his ashes are buried.

The parsonage has been restored and is furnished as it was when the Barnard family lived there.

The Old Town Hall:

As the first municipality proclaimed in South Africa in 1837, Beaufort West has the oldest Town Hall in the country. It now houses the main Museum collection and one of the most popular exhibits is a representation of the first heart transplant operation, with much of the equipment used on that historic occasion.

Denise Darvall’s heart was transplanted into Louis Washkansky.

"Dr Terry O’ Donovan removed the (donor’s) heart from the chest and carried it to the adjacent recipient operating room, to which I had returned. Louis Washkansky’s heart was then similarly removed, and, for the first time in my life, I stared into an empty chest. At that moment, the full impact of what I was attempting became abundantly clear to me."

Washkansky lived another 18 days but thousands more heart transplants have followed. 

The numerous awards, honourary degrees, medallions and gifts made to Chris Barnard from governments, associations and famous individuals around the world form part of the exhibitions at the Museum.

The Old Mission Church:

This was the church in which Chris Barnard's father preached and  his mother played the organ.

The role played by various church denominations in the development of Beaufort West is depicted and in the vestry there is an exhibition of guns and leather clothes. Some important  firearms from the early days of South African history are on display.

Museum visiting hours:

Monday to Friday:  8h30 - 12h45 and 13h45 - 16h45. Saturday: 9h00 - 12h00

Entry: R6.00 for adults and R2.00 for children

Curator: Sandra Smit

Tel: 023 415 2308    bwestmuseum@telkomsa.net

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