Geography Barberton, regarded as the "Gem of the Lowveld" is situated 330km east of Pretoria in the picturesque surroundings of the De Kaap Valley.HistoryBarberton can boast being the town where South Africa's gold mining industry really began in earnest. It was in 1884 that Graham Barber discovered a rich reef of gold in the area, and it wasn't long before a bottle of gin was broken on the rocks, and the camp proclaimed as Barberton. Soon, thousands of diggers were lured to the valley, and with their arrival a collection of shacks, stores and canteens quickly sprang up. It developed a real frontier mining town characteristic, and one of the more notorious bars was the Cockney Liz, where barmaids got tipped for pouring drinks amongst other activities! Although the golden days have disappeared, Barberton is still a town full of character, with an economy based on agriculture including timber, citrus, tobacco and various fruits and vegetables. Arts and Culture San rock art exists throughout the hills and mountains of the area, and visitors are afforded a glimpse into the lives of these interesting ancient nomads. More modern sites of cultural interest include several buildings of the boom time era that have survived and been proclaimed provincial heritage sites. Some of these nostalgic relics include the fa<\#231>ade of the Gold Stock Exchange, the first in South Africa, and the Lewis and Marks Building (the first double storey in town). Museums in the town include Belhaven House Museum with its interesting displays on geology and mining, Swazi history and general history of Barberton, as well as Stopforth and Fernlea Houses, two original wood and iron houses. Another building of historical importance is the 1901 South African (Anglo-Boer) War blockhouse, and a fascinating excursion would be to visit the ruins of Eureka City with a local tour guide. For those tourists interested in local literature, Barberton is well known as "Jock of the Bushveld Town", and a statue of the terrier can be seen in front of the Town Hall. The Diggers Retreat Hotel has an interesting frieze of scenes from Jock's life along its walls, painted by wandering artist Frederick Genal. ScienceThe beautiful De Kaap Valley is renowned for its ancient rock formations which are 4-billion years old. The town itself is famed for its indigenous Barberton daisies which flower in August through to December in explosive displays of red, pink, orange and yellow. Entertainment Visitors to Barberton can soak up the old mining atmosphere of the town by arranging to pan for gold at Noordkaap, 14km out of town. Other activities to keep you busy include going on lovely scenic drives or checking out the 20km cableway from Barberton to the Havelock Asbestos Mine in Swaziland, which is a marvel of modern engineering.Did You Know The Daisy family is one of the largest plant families in the world, with over 23,000 species. |
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