Historical

21 October 1871, Gladstone suburb in use. 21 October 1968, Statue of Danie Theron unveiled at Alexandersfontein. Pictured is the bridge erected in 1891 Gladstone Suburb This suburb was first named Gladstone after the English Prime Minister of the time, ...

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 Dunell, Ebden and Company for 6000 guineas. Pictured is the original De Beer’s homestead and Johannes Nicolaas de Beer. Vooruitzicht and the Homestead Johannes Nicolaas de ...

UPDATE: 16/10/2020 16 October 1886, Neville Pickering, Rhodes’ friend and secretary of De Beers Mining Company, dies. 16 October 1886, London office of De Beers opens. 16 October 1897, Richard Bawden accidentally killed in the De Beers Mine. 16 October 1939, Charlotte Maxeke, ...

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: 14/10/2020 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: 12/10/2020 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 ...

9 October 1876, Solomon T Plaatje (pictured) born near Boshof. 9 October 1901, Presentation of a Silver Cradle to the Mayor and Mayoress. 9 October 1902, Memorial to the Jewish soldiers who died during the Boer War unveiled. 9 October ...

UPDATED: 08/10/2020 8 October 1918, Spanish Flu has Kimberley in its deathly grip and fatalities mount. 8 October 1931, Dairyman William Doyle dies after falling down a well at Ronaldsvlei. Kimberley in the death grip of Spanish Flu On this ...