Historic Buildings & Monuments
In the process of identifying tourist attractions in Kimberley, the emphasis falls repeatedly on the historical significance of the architecture in Old Kimberley. In late-Victorian & Edwardian Kimberley, every style of robust architecture was represented. Public buildings boasted elaborate brick facades topped with urns, gables, and pediments; stores were fronted with decorative cast-iron balconies, and hotels sprouted fanciful turrets.
The outstanding feature of most of the buildings from this period was the wood and iron verandah. The verandah became a status symbol, and these ranged from plain wooden poles supporting a straight corrugated iron roof to quite elaborate combinations of Chinese, Chippendale, and latticework supporting curved iron canopies.
The outstanding feature of most of the buildings from this period was the wood and iron verandah. The verandah became a status symbol, and these ranged from plain wooden poles supporting a straight corrugated iron roof to quite elaborate combinations of Chinese, Chippendale, and latticework supporting curved iron canopies.
The discovery of diamonds during the latter part of the 1860s and early 1870s not only led to the establishment of a new town – Kimberley – but also to the development of South Africa’s first industrial community. The tremendous wealth of the diamond mines in Kimberley formed the basis of the modern South African economy.
The earliest ‘architecture’ was a conglomeration of tents with, here and there, a wooden shanty constructed from old packing cases. The reason for this was that, despite the visible yield of the mines, there was for many years a prevailing distrust of the long-term future of the diamond-bearing deposits and the consequent stability of the settlement founded upon them.
Developments in the diamond industry transformed the town's character. Immediately after the merger of the diamond mining companies, the country experienced a general economic downturn. Coupled with this, the diamond industry came into the hands of mining magnates and large companies, which inexorably forced out private entrepreneurs, individual diggers, and small-time fortune hunters. Fewer people shared in the prosperity than previously, but there was probably more wealth and definitely better living conditions. With the amalgamation of the diamond mining companies in 1888, the permanence of Kimberley as a town was emphasised. During these years, Kimberley was transformed from a conglomeration of wood and iron structures to a well-laid-out town consisting of architecturally designed houses and buildings.
The earliest ‘architecture’ was a conglomeration of tents with, here and there, a wooden shanty constructed from old packing cases. The reason for this was that, despite the visible yield of the mines, there was for many years a prevailing distrust of the long-term future of the diamond-bearing deposits and the consequent stability of the settlement founded upon them.
Developments in the diamond industry transformed the town's character. Immediately after the merger of the diamond mining companies, the country experienced a general economic downturn. Coupled with this, the diamond industry came into the hands of mining magnates and large companies, which inexorably forced out private entrepreneurs, individual diggers, and small-time fortune hunters. Fewer people shared in the prosperity than previously, but there was probably more wealth and definitely better living conditions. With the amalgamation of the diamond mining companies in 1888, the permanence of Kimberley as a town was emphasised. During these years, Kimberley was transformed from a conglomeration of wood and iron structures to a well-laid-out town consisting of architecturally designed houses and buildings.
The character of architecture in South Africa had been influenced directly by climate, available materials, social structure and fluctuations in prosperity at specific periods. It has been said that what characterised 19th-century architecture was the absence of a typical or consistent way of building that could be called a ‘style’. The choice of ‘style’ for a building by both clients and their architects was an arbitrary and personal one, seldom related to the purpose of the building, its surroundings or method of construction. Politics, religious convictions, fashion and romantic associations determined the selection.
Nonetheless, an architectural style peculiar to the Kimberley of this period did emerge. Increasing ornateness characterised architecture in the 1890s. The building boom which followed the new prosperity exploited the manufactured materials of the Industrial Age. In 1890, an enormous volume of cast iron and other ready-made components was imported into South Africa.
Nonetheless, an architectural style peculiar to the Kimberley of this period did emerge. Increasing ornateness characterised architecture in the 1890s. The building boom which followed the new prosperity exploited the manufactured materials of the Industrial Age. In 1890, an enormous volume of cast iron and other ready-made components was imported into South Africa.
In Kimberley, every style of robust, late Victorian architecture was represented. Public buildings boasted elaborate brick facades topped with urns, gables, and pediments; stores were fronted with decorative cast-iron balconies, and hotels sprouted fanciful turrets. The outstanding feature of most of the buildings from this period was the wood and iron verandah. The verandah became a status symbol, and these ranged from plain wooden poles supporting a straight corrugated iron roof to quite elaborate combinations of Chinese, Chippendale, and latticework supporting curved iron canopies. By 1904, the firm of Church and McLauchlin was manufacturing high-quality terracotta bricks and other products at their Ronaldsvlei works south of Kimberley, for which they won a gold medal at the Cape Town International Exhibition of that year.
The decoration of buildings was essential to a community which had lost its status as South Africa’s major industrial centre to Johannesburg. Still, it had gained stability and a sense of permanence with the amalgamation scheme. Within their embellished houses decorated with marble, stained glass, ceramic tiles and imported wallpaper, Kimberley’s residents could escape the ever-present realities of a mining town.
(Photo by Richard Jones)
(Source: based on text supplied by the McGregor Museum)
The decoration of buildings was essential to a community which had lost its status as South Africa’s major industrial centre to Johannesburg. Still, it had gained stability and a sense of permanence with the amalgamation scheme. Within their embellished houses decorated with marble, stained glass, ceramic tiles and imported wallpaper, Kimberley’s residents could escape the ever-present realities of a mining town.
(Photo by Richard Jones)
(Source: based on text supplied by the McGregor Museum)
