1871 – Pioneer Cemetery Opens

Around 1 August 1871, Kimberley's Pioneer Cemetery officially opened, replacing the overcrowded Old De Beers Cemetery near what is now St Alban's Church. As the Diamond Fields expanded rapidly, the new cemetery provided a permanent resting place for many miners, merchants, families, and pioneers who helped build the young town into one of the world's greatest diamond centres. 

Today, Pioneer Cemetery is one of Kimberley's most significant heritage sites. Among those buried there are many of the city's early settlers, while the impressive entrance gates were donated by Countess Ida Labia in memory of her father, Sir Joseph Benjamin Robinson, one of the great figures of the South African diamond industry. The cemetery also contains separate sections reflecting the diverse communities that shaped Kimberley's early history, providing a remarkable record of the city's multicultural origins.

Did You Know?

Pioneer Cemetery served Kimberley for more than thirty years before closing in 1905, preserving the stories of many of the men, women and children who built the Diamond City during its earliest years.

1911 – Griqualand West Returns Home as Currie Cup Champions

On 1 August 1911, ecstatic crowds welcomed home the Griqualand West rugby team after their historic Currie Cup victory. The triumph was celebrated across Kimberley, where rugby had already become one of the city's greatest sporting passions. Supporters gathered to honour the players, whose achievement brought immense pride to the Diamond Fields and firmly established Griqualand West among South Africa's rugby elite.  The victory remains one of the defining moments in Kimberley's sporting history and helped cement the city's reputation as one of the country's great rugby centres.