UPDATED: 26/05/2023 26 May 1873, Formation of the Griqualand Mounted Police in Kimberley. 26 May 1884, SA cricketer Louis Stricker born in Beaconsfield. The formation of the Mounted Police In the early days of the diamond fields, Nicholas Waterboer’s territory ...
Read More »TODAY IN KIMBERLEY’S HISTORY 11 MAY
UPDATED: 11/05/2023 11 May 1879, Advocate James Halkett dies aged 37 years. 11 May 1881, Kimberley Central Diamond Mining Company now the largest company in the Kimberley Mine. 11 May 1968, ZK Matthews dies in Washington USA. 11 May 1998, ...
Read More »TODAY IN KIMBERLEY’S HISTORY 09 MARCH
UPDATED: 09/03/2023 Every now and again there will be nothing to report on today in Kimberley’s history. While matters of historical interest assuredly happened in Kimberley on this very day, they have not yet been “found” and research is on-going……. ...
Read More »TODAY IN KIMBERLEY’S HISTORY 27 JANUARY
UPDATE: 27/01/2023 27 January 1910, A liberal supporter of all sports, James A Hill of Hill and Paddon, dies at his home “Violet Bank” on Park Road. JAMES HILL OF VIOLET BANK and HILL AND PADDON James (Jimmy) Alfred Hill ...
Read More »TODAY IN KIMBERLEY’S HISTORY – 18 NOVEMBER
18 November 1870, Klipdrift (Barkly West) declared the short-lived Diggers Republic. 18 November 1879, The St Cyprian’s Church in Jones Street blown down by a “dustdevil” while being built. 18 November 1914, Alderman Lawrie Shuttleworth born. 18 November 1936, Gordon Highlanders band “the ...
Read More »TODAY IN KIMBERLEY’S HISTORY 27 AUGUST
27 August 1914, Kimberley Defence Rifle Association formed. 27 August 1916, SA rugby player and cricketer Tony Harris born. Tony Harris – Kimberley’s rugby and cricket Springbok Terence Anthony Harris, known to all and sundry as Tony, was born in ...
Read More »TODAY IN KIMBERLEY’S HISTORY 30 JULY
30 July 1870, Stafford Parker (pictured) elected as President of the Digger’s Republic in Klipdrift (Barkly West). Pictured is Stafford Parker, Parker’s music hall in Klipdrift (Barkly West) the Australian Arms in Kimberley, as well as the flag of the short-lived ...
Read More »Violet Bank on Park Road (OXO House)
Violet Bank on Park Road was built at the turn of the century (c1899/1900) and occupied until his death in 1910 by James Hill, who in 1884 had been elected a Member of the Cape Legislative Assembly, representing Barkly West. ...
Read More »TODAY IN KIMBERLEY’S HISTORY – 21 DECEMBER
21 DECEMBER 1873, The Griqualand West Legislative Council meets at Barkly West for the first time. 21 DECEMBER 1882, The water from the Vaal river to Kimberley successfully pumped, 1882. 21 DECEMBER 1664, John Power, (pictured), the second McGregor Museum ...
Read More »TODAY IN KIMBERLEY’S HISTORY – 16 DECEMBER
16 DECEMBER 1848, Title deeds to the farm Bultfontein granted to JF Otto. 16 DECEMBER 1899, Mayor of Beaconsfield, Fred Blacking, dies in harness. DID YOU KNOW There were many diggers who moved away from the crowded alluvial diggings along ...
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