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| Kimberley The Hole That Became a City |
The Hole That Became A City
Diamond rushes in South Africa were often
unpredictable; devastating on the environment and
often disappeared as quickly as a Highveld storm. The
first rush (1869) started when diamonds were
discovered in the walls of a farmhouse. Diggers pulled
the house down, pegged out the area around the
house and eventually left the area with only a large
hole in the ground.
About 2 years after the first, another rush started when
diamonds were discovered on a small hillock close to
the first discovery. The frantic rush caused the small
hill (koppie) to disappear and to be replaced by a
hole. However, this rush never came to an end and
the hole grew bigger and bigger. Around the verges
of ``The Big Hole" buildings sprang up and kept on
expanding. The city of Kimberley was born.
Nobody could possibly have dreamed that the koppie
would become the vigorous pit of the Kimberley Mine.
There was no end to the diamonds and people
became unbelievably rich. According to stories
successful diggers lit their cigars with bank notes
whilst their women bath in champagne. Kimberley
became the gathering place for the ``new
aristocracy" mainly swindlers, rogues, adventurers,
Madames and other characters. From this two famous
``diamond giants", Cecil John Rhodes and Barney
Bernato, emerged.
Kimberley became a very bright place. Races,
lotteries, ballrooms, boxing booths, pubs,
merry-go-rounds and dance halls flourished. It was the
first city in Africa to have electrical streetlights. In
1887 a tramway started to operate. The Halfway and
West End Hotels offer a ride-in bar service. Horsemen
could order a drink without even dismounting.
Places to Visit
The Big Hole Museum the hole in itself is an
extraordinary site and is surrounded by a
reconstructed town dating from the days of Cecil
Rhodes.
McGregor Museum displays a large selection of
historical objects including a selection of Bushmen
relics.
Duggan-Cronin Gallery houses 8000 photo's of African
customs, exhibits of ethnological interest as well as
beadwork.
Humphreys Art Gallery exhibits of South African and
European art.
Public Library collection of Africana and material on
the history of the diamond rush.
South Africa's First Flying School outdoor display of
the county's first flying school.
De Beers Mine treatment and recovery plants are
open to visitors.
The Big Hole
When the diggers started to work the Kimberley
diamond pipe, nobody knew how deep it would go.
The deeper the workings the more complicated life
became for the diggers. It resembled the inside of an
ant heap. Up to 30 000 men were working day and
night to clear the rubble and rock.
At the turn of the century the Hole was about 160
meters deep with an outside diameter of about
1200-meter. When mining stopped it was about 800
meters deep and more than 14 million carats of
diamonds have been extracted.
Source: Encounter South Africa
Diamond rushes in South Africa were often
unpredictable; devastating on the environment and
often disappeared as quickly as a Highveld storm. The
first rush (1869) started when diamonds were
discovered in the walls of a farmhouse. Diggers pulled
the house down, pegged out the area around the
house and eventually left the area with only a large
hole in the ground.
About 2 years after the first, another rush started when
diamonds were discovered on a small hillock close to
the first discovery. The frantic rush caused the small
hill (koppie) to disappear and to be replaced by a
hole. However, this rush never came to an end and
the hole grew bigger and bigger. Around the verges
of ``The Big Hole" buildings sprang up and kept on
expanding. The city of Kimberley was born.
Nobody could possibly have dreamed that the koppie
would become the vigorous pit of the Kimberley Mine.
There was no end to the diamonds and people
became unbelievably rich. According to stories
successful diggers lit their cigars with bank notes
whilst their women bath in champagne. Kimberley
became the gathering place for the ``new
aristocracy" mainly swindlers, rogues, adventurers,
Madames and other characters. From this two famous
``diamond giants", Cecil John Rhodes and Barney
Bernato, emerged.
Kimberley became a very bright place. Races,
lotteries, ballrooms, boxing booths, pubs,
merry-go-rounds and dance halls flourished. It was the
first city in Africa to have electrical streetlights. In
1887 a tramway started to operate. The Halfway and
West End Hotels offer a ride-in bar service. Horsemen
could order a drink without even dismounting.
Places to Visit
The Big Hole Museum the hole in itself is an
extraordinary site and is surrounded by a
reconstructed town dating from the days of Cecil
Rhodes.
McGregor Museum displays a large selection of
historical objects including a selection of Bushmen
relics.
Duggan-Cronin Gallery houses 8000 photo's of African
customs, exhibits of ethnological interest as well as
beadwork.
Humphreys Art Gallery exhibits of South African and
European art.
Public Library collection of Africana and material on
the history of the diamond rush.
South Africa's First Flying School outdoor display of
the county's first flying school.
De Beers Mine treatment and recovery plants are
open to visitors.
The Big Hole
When the diggers started to work the Kimberley
diamond pipe, nobody knew how deep it would go.
The deeper the workings the more complicated life
became for the diggers. It resembled the inside of an
ant heap. Up to 30 000 men were working day and
night to clear the rubble and rock.
At the turn of the century the Hole was about 160
meters deep with an outside diameter of about
1200-meter. When mining stopped it was about 800
meters deep and more than 14 million carats of
diamonds have been extracted.
Source: Encounter South Africa
Old Time Kimberley
| The Big Hole - much of it now filled with water |
| Descent by rope in the 1800's |
From: freeyouthministry
A Small Comunity is Kimberley South Africa -
Video below
A Small Comunity is Kimberley South Africa -
Video below
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