Historical

UPDATE: 16/07/2019 16 July 1871, Esau Demoense discovers the world’s richest diamond mine, later named the Kimberley Mine. 16 July 1884, Vooruitzucht Estate, except the mining areas, handed over to the Council. 16 July 1894, Andrew Hudson Bain of Bains ...

15 July 1871, Diamond News reports that there are 43 graves in Dutoitspan cemetery. 15 July 1916, The SA Brigade moves into Delville Wood (pictured) at 05h00. 15 July 1928, Kimberley’s Cenotaph (pictured) unveiled in Dutoitspan Road. DID YOU KNOW ...

12 July 1888, Rescue attempts continue at the De Beers Mine disaster as hundreds of miners escape the underground fire. Pictured are GM of De Beers at the time of the disaster, Gardner Williams, and the Memorial at Gladstone cemetery. ...

11 July 1878, Louis Hond found guilty of buying two diamonds from Africans. 11 July 1888, The world’s worst diamond mine disaster occurs at the De Beers mine, claiming 202 lives. DID YOU KNOW Wednesday 11 July 1888 is the ...

UPDATED: 10/07/2019 10 July 1871, John Daniel Kestell (pictured) arrives in Kimberley as a youth. 10 July 1902, Presentation to Colonel RG Kekewich at the Eclectic grounds.  DID YOU KNOW Dr John Daniel Kestell, better known to his flock as “Vader”, was ...

UPDATED: 09/07/2019 9 July 1847, Henrietta Stockdale born in England. 9 July 1871, First baptism entry – Leonard Hinton – at the Catholic church in Bultfontein by Father Hidien. 9 July 1891, A big explosion occurs at De Beers Head ...

Nothing as yet found that happened on this very day in Kimberley’s history. Et quaerere semper. DID YOU KNOW John Theodore Misherley, the kind-hearted and charitable 59 year old Greek owner of the Union Hotel and Bar on North Circular ...

UPDATED: 05/07/2019 5 July 1853, Cecil John Rhodes born at Bishop’s Stortford, England. 5 July 1873, The settlement known as “New Rush” is named Kimberley. 5 July 1873, Klipdrift re-named Barkly West. 5 July 1915, John Misherley, Greek owner of the Union Hotel on ...

4 July 1953, Cecil Rhodes Museum opens at the cottage where he died in Muizenberg. DID YOU KNOW Today, the 4th of July, is Independence Day for the United States of America. A brief look at a few USA citizens ...

UPDATED: 03/07/2019 3 July 1873, Reverend Gway Tyamzashe ordained the first black minister in Kimberley. 3 July 1890, The Kimberley Golf Club formed. 3 July 1901, Kimberley’s first motor car, a Panhard Levassor, hits the streets. 3 July 1901, Syce ...