22 October 1870, Stafford Parker’s Music Hall opens on the banks of the Vaal River. President Stafford Parker of the Diamond Diggers Republic Stafford Parker (pictured) was born in Maldon, Essex, England on 30 March 1833, the son of Stafford ...

21 October 1871, Gladstone suburb in use. 21 October 1968, Statue of Danie Theron unveiled at Alexandersfontein. Gladstone Suburb This suburb was first named Gladstone after the English Prime Minister of the time, the name being in use as early ...

20 October 1901, The birth of ZK Matthews, Freedom Charter architect, at Winter’s Rush. ZK Matthews born at Winter’s Rush Zachariah Keodirelang Matthews (pictured) was born on 20 October 1901 at Winter’s Rush – in one of 50 reserves specially ...

19 October 1871, The farm Vooruitzicht officially sold by the De Beers brothers to the Ebden Brothers for 6000 guineas. Pictured is the original De Beer’s homestead and Johannes Nicolaas de Beer. Vooruitzicht and the Homestead Johannes Nicolaas de Beer, ...

UPDATE: 18/10/2021 18 October 1858, Wilfrid Gore-Brown, first Anglican Bishop of Kimberley. 18 October 1873, First execution on the diamond fields for murder – Kleinjan at Barkly West. 18 October 1899, First British Officer in the Boer War to die, Lt ...

15 October 1880, Griqualand West incorporated into the Cape Colony. 15 October 1885, Richard Stable accidentally killed in the Kimberley Mine. 15 October 1899, Martial law proclaimed in Kimberley besieged by Boers. 15 October 1910, SA cricketer Xenophon Balaskas born. 15 October 1913, Edward ...

UPDATED: 14/10/2021 14 October 1899, The siege of Kimberley begins. It will last 124 days Telegraphic communications cut with outside world In the Kimberley region before the war began on 11 October 1899, Boer commandoes had been gathering at Boshof ...

13 October 1870, The first newspaper, The Diamond Field, published at Barkly West. 13 October 1866, Thirteen miners die at De Beers Mine. 13 October 1897, Diamond Jubilee Wing of Beaconsfield Town Hall added. 13 October 1902, The Pirate King, George ...

UPDATE: 12/10/2021 12 October 1881, Christian von Abo accidentally killed in Dutoitspan Mine. 12 October 1888, The first Poor Sisters of Nazareth arrive in Kimberley. 12 October 1899, H Robinow, DBCM Director, dies. 12 October 1910, A packet of 103 diamonds found ...

UPDATED: 11/10/2021 11 October 1895, The second fire to destroy the Kimberley Club. 11 October 1899, The Anglo-Boer War starts at 5pm. 11 October 1912, St Cyprian’s church elevated to that of a Cathedral. (Pictured is the Club after the ...