Kimberley Girls' High School
Why Kimberley Matters
Over the years, we have noticed that many of our guests—whether visiting Kimberley for business or leisure—have wondered why this remarkable city has played such an important role in South Africa's history over the past 160 years.
These pages invite you on a coffee-table journey through Kimberley's past, from the discovery of the Eureka Diamond in 1867 and the Great Diamond Rush, through wars, political change and the rise of the world's diamond industry, to the city we know today. They are not intended to be an academic history, but rather an enjoyable introduction to the people, places and events that shaped Kimberley.
So, make yourself comfortable, pour a cappuccino or a cup of chai, and enjoy exploring the remarkable story of one of South Africa's most fascinating cities.
Kimberley Girls' High School's magnificent entrance on Elsmere Road. The distinctive Yates Gate (historically recognised as the Lych Gate) is a prominent architectural feature at Kimberley Girls' High School. It is a key part of the school's celebrated Edwardian architecture, considered one of the finest surviving examples in South Africa, and forms part of the historic entrance to the school grounds. It was designed by the famous Kimberley artist and architect William Mitcheson Timlin.
The Edwardian Landmark That Became One of South Africa's Great Schools
Among Kimberley's many historic buildings, few are as elegant or as enduring as Kimberley Girls' High School. Standing proudly on the corner of Elsmere and Rendlesham Roads in Belgravia, its warm red brick, steep terracotta roofs, decorative gables and distinctive corner tower have become one of the city's best-loved architectural landmarks.
For well over a century, the school has educated generations of young women, earning a reputation for academic excellence, sporting achievement and strong community values. Yet behind its beautiful façade lies a fascinating story that stretches back to the earliest years of Kimberley's development during the great diamond rush.
The Beginning – 1887
Kimberley Girls' High School traces its origins to 12 April 1887, when Kimberley's civic leaders established the Kimberley Public Undenominational Schools. At the time, Kimberley was one of the fastest-growing towns in the world, fuelled by the extraordinary wealth generated by the surrounding diamond mines.
The new institution brought together boys and girls under one administration, although they were taught separately. Classes initially met in temporary accommodation before moving into a purpose-built school in Lanyon Terrace in 1888, close to the De Beers Mine.
That impressive Victorian building still survives today and now serves as the Teachers' Centre, making it one of Kimberley's oldest surviving educational buildings.
Public Undenominational Schools in Kimberley moved to a purpose-built school in Lanyon Terrace, which opened in 1888
A New School for Belgravia
By the beginning of the twentieth century Kimberley's population had continued to grow, creating the need for additional classroom space for younger pupils. In 1905, respected Kimberley architect Daniel Westwood Greatbatch prepared plans for a new Belgravia Public School on the corner of Elsmere and Rendlesham Roads. The surviving architectural drawing, dated 28 August 1905, reveals a handsome school inspired by the English Arts and Crafts tradition, complete with steep roofs, decorative timber gables, generous classrooms and an elegant corner tower. Greatbatch's work helped define the architectural character of Edwardian Kimberley, and many of his buildings remain among the city's finest heritage landmarks today.
The foundation stone was laid in 1906, and the school opened in 1907 as a preparatory school for girls destined to continue their education at the Girls' section of the Kimberley Public Undenominational Schools. Greatbatch was one of Kimberley's most influential architects, responsible for many of the city's finest buildings, including the Kimberley Club, parts of St Cyprian's Cathedral, numerous Belgravia homes and the supervision of the Honoured Dead Memorial.
Daniel Westwood Greatbatch's original architectural drawing for Belgravia Public School, signed and dated 28 August 1905. The design was prepared for the Kimberley School Board and shows the elevations facing Elsmere Street and Rendlesham Road together with the original floor plan. Although refined before construction, the drawing clearly reveals the building that would later become Kimberley Girls' High School.
The original 1905 plan shows that the building was designed as Belgravia Public School rather than Kimberley Girls' High School. When the Kimberley Undenominational Schools were reorganised in 1913, this building became the permanent home of Kimberley Girls' High School.
Kimberley Girls' High School Finds Its Permanent Home
A major reorganisation took place in 1913. The Kimberley Public Undenominational Schools were divided into two independent schools:
- Kimberley Girls' High School
- Kimberley Boys' High School
The girls moved into the former Belgravia Public School buildings on Elsmere Road, while Kimberley Boys' High School later occupied its magnificent new campus on Memorial Road. The Belgravia Public School building, therefore, became the permanent home of Kimberley Girls' High School—a role it has fulfilled continuously ever since.
Visitor Information
Girls' High School is a working school rather than a public museum, and access to the campus is therefore restricted. The main entrance is off Elsmere Road and is secured. The rear entrance off Lodge Road is secured by gates and security personnel, apart from authorised school access, including parents dropping off and collecting pupils. Visitors can nevertheless appreciate much of the historic campus from Elsmere Road and Rendlesham Road.
Extras: Just behind the school is historic Lodge Road, where visitors can view 7 Lodge Road, home of Ernest Oppenheimer from 1907 and the birthplace of Harry Oppenheimer; Dunluce, home of Gustav Bonas and later John Orr; and, a short walk away, the Cape Police Memorial, unveiled in 1904.
Architecture Worth Preserving
Kimberley Girls' High School is widely regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of an Edwardian educational building in South Africa. Constructed from locally made red brick beneath a steep terracotta roof, the building displays many characteristics of the English Arts and Crafts movement, together with subtle Tudor Revival influences. Decorative half-timbered gables, tall mullioned windows, elegant verandas and carefully proportioned brick detailing give the school a distinctive character that blends beauty with practicality.
The octagonal entrance tower has become one of the school's defining features and remains a familiar landmark within Belgravia's historic streetscape. Unlike many schools that have undergone extensive rebuilding, Kimberley Girls' High School has retained much of its original architectural integrity. Mature gardens and towering trees soften the building's appearance, creating one of the most beautiful and best-preserved historic school campuses in South Africa.
The distinctive Yates Gate (historically recognised as the Lych Gate) is a prominent architectural feature and forms part of the historic entrance to the school grounds. It was designed by the famous Kimberley artist and architect William Mitcheson Timlin. The Lych gate structure was added to the school grounds in 1913. This is the same year the school relocated to its permanent home in Belgravia.
The distinctive entrance tower has become one of Kimberley's best-known educational landmarks. Together with its decorative half-timbering and brick detailing, it gives the school much of its unique character and makes it instantly recognisable.
The long red-brick façade reveals Daniel Westwood Greatbatch's careful attention to proportion and detail. Decorative timber gables, steep tiled roofs and generous classroom windows are typical of the English Arts and Crafts influence popular at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Part of a Remarkable Educational Family
Kimberley Girls' High School forms part of a unique family of schools whose roots all lead back to the Kimberley Public Undenominational Schools, founded in 1887. Over time, this educational tradition gave rise to several well-known Kimberley institutions, including Kimberley Boys' High School, Belgravia Public School, Belgravia Junior School and today's Kimberley Junior School. Each has its own fascinating history, reflecting Kimberley's commitment to education during the city's years of rapid growth.
"The finest school buildings do more than educate. They become part of the identity of the communities they serve."
Kimberley Girls' High School is as much a garden campus as it is an architectural landmark. More than a century of carefully tended trees and lawns has transformed the school into one of Kimberley's most picturesque heritage sites.
A Living Heritage
For more than 110 years, the red-brick buildings on Elsmere Road have echoed with the voices of generations of pupils. Former learners have gone on to distinguished careers in education, medicine, science, law, business, the arts and public service, while the school continues to uphold its traditions of academic excellence, leadership and community service.
Today, Kimberley Girls' High School remains not only a leading educational institution but also one of the city's most treasured heritage buildings. Standing beneath its mature trees, it is easy to imagine the excitement of pupils arriving more than a century ago, beginning a tradition that continues to shape young women and the city of Kimberley today.
Did You Know?
The building now occupied by Kimberley Girls' High School was originally built as Belgravia Public School. Designed by architect Daniel Westwood Greatbatch in 1905, it opened in 1907 before becoming the home of Kimberley Girls' High School when the Kimberley Public Undenominational Schools were reorganised in 1913. The school's original 1888 home in Lanyon Terrace still stands today as the Teachers' Centre, just a short distance from the De Beers Mine.
Continue Exploring Kimberley
Whether your interests lie in history, culture, dining, shopping, entertainment, or simply discovering somewhere new, we hope these guides help you make the most of your time in Kimberley. If you're planning a visit to the City that Sparkles, Solomon Edwardian Guest House offers elegant accommodation in the historic suburb of Beaconsfield. Ideally situated for business and leisure travellers alike, The Solomon provides a comfortable base from which to explore.