The story behind the name of our valley
Agnes Mine: The gold story that refused to die
The origins of Agnes are somewhat tangled, as is often the case with a mine that has been worked, consolidated and renamed over more than a century.
Gold brought Kaapschehoop and Barberton together
The gold rush that transformed Barberton also reached the high ground of Kaapschehoop, linking two very different settlements within the same De Kaap goldfield.
Makhonjwa: our ancient mountain
The name Makhonjwa carries its own intriguing history, although its precise origin remains uncertain.
Tiger Trap, where the gold rush still lives underground
Today, Tiger Trap forms part of the historic mining experience associated with Agnes Mine, where visitors can venture into an old underground working mine and even try their luck at gold panning.
The railway that changed the gold-rush town
Gold might have been buried beneath the mountains, but getting anything in or out of Barberton was another matter altogether. For the people of the young town, a railway was not simply a convenience. It was a lifeline.