Kimberly - History

Kimberley has been dubbed the "City of Diamonds". The town is the capital of the Northern Cape province in South Africa. The city is primarily a diamond-mining centre, although textiles, construction materials, and machinery are manufactured. It is the market and service centre for a prosperous irrigated-farming and cattle-raising area. Iron, salt, and gypsum are also worked in the vicinity. The city is also an important railroad junction. Kimberley was founded in 1871 when diamonds were discovered on a nearby farm. The De Beers Consolidated Mines, organized by Cecil Rhodes, assumed control of the diamond fields in 1888. In 1899–1900, during the South African War, the city was besieged by Boer (Afrikaner) forces. The discovery of the Star of South Africa prompted Sir Richard Southey. 

The HONOURED DEAD MEMORIAL commemorates those who lost their lives defending Kimberley during the 124-day siege of Kimberley at the start of the Anglo Boer War. "Long Cecil", the gun named after Rhodes and built in the De Beers Workshops during the siege, stands at the base of the monument. 

The Colonial Secretary at the Cape, to declare: “This is the rock on which the future success of South Africa will be built.” The diamond rush had begun.

The mining camp of Kimberley grew as a result of the intensive digging of the diamond-bearing pipe at the hill called Colesberg Koppie. The camp was named after John Wodehouse, 1^st Earl of Kimberley, who was then British colonial secretary.

Diggers Fountain representing the five diamond miners of Kimberley

Kimberley Mine (now called the Big Hole), the richest diamond-producing mine in the world; but several other mines remain productive, and diamond mining and cutting remain prominent industries.

Around the Big Hole a shanty town sprang up, and the new town, New Rush, was born. Many diggers lived in tents; others built small houses from wood and corrugated iron. In 1873 the mushrooming town’s name was changed to Kimberley, in honour of the Earl of Kimberley, British Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Kimberley's gardens and squares are dotted with memorials, including an equestrian statue of Rhodes.

The entire region has only one major town, Upington, the jumping-off point for the Kalahari, the Augrabies Falls and Fish River Canyon, and one city, Kimberley.