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.
Fernlea: a house built in the gold rush era
Fernlea House in Barberton dates back to the late 1880s and offers a look at everyday life during the town’s early gold rush years. One of the oldest surviving homes in the area, it reflects how families lived while the mining industry shaped the valley.
Behind bars: crime, punishment and the prisoners who tried to escape
Where gold flowed, crime followed and Barberton’s jail became one of the town’s first lines of defence against chaos.