Royal Albert Hall was once the beating heart of Barberton's gold rush
The Royal Albert Hall opened its doors on July 17, 1887, at a time when Barberton was flourishing as one of South Africa's richest goldfields.
How the rush for riches changed the De Kaap valley forever
In 1884, everything changed. Before there was a gold rush, there was a valley. Before there was Barberton, there were communities.
Bornman family helped shape the De Kaap Valley
Among those early settlers were the Bornmans of Bornmans Drift, a family whose history became closely intertwined with the development of the Barberton district.
Kings, cattle and kingdoms: How the Swazi nation shaped the De Kaap Valley
Before Barberton: The Swazi people of the De Kaap Valley
Gold, ghost mines and forgotten fortunes
Gold, loss and uncertainty: three mines that shaped the community
While famous names like Sheba and Fairview dominate the town’s early history, three smaller operations, Lily, Barbrook and Makhonjwa mines, played deeply personal role in the lives of generations of local families.