Barberton Overview

Barberton, known as the "Gem of the Lowveld" is situated 350km east of Pretoria in the picturesque surroundings of the De Kaap Valley. This town is older than the city of Johannesburg and was founded in 1884 by Graham Barber, from Natal, who found what they called Barber's Reef - a reef so rich that it glittered with gold. This area is one of the most beautiful wilderness area with ever-changing mountains, pristine savannah, bushveld, indigenous riverine and mountain forest, all intersected by gin clear perennial streams. The plant species diversity is second on the Cape Fynbos with 2 100 different species and still counting.
Barberton is a bird watcher’s haven with more than 400 species being recorded here, along with 24 different amphibians and reptiles.

The colourful and vibrant cultural background of Barberton gives the place an unique character that reminds one of the irrepressible pioneering spirit of man. From archaeological sites dating back to as much as 400 BC and evidence of even earlier San/Bushman habitants, to traditional Swazi cultures and the later discovery of gold and the coming of the Europeans, Barberton represents everything that is truly African, in a unique colorful palate mix of heart and character.

Although the golden days have disappeared, Barberton is still a town full of character, with an economy based on agriculture including timber production, citrus, tobacco and various fruit and vegetables.

History

Many peoples have traversed the area over the centuries. Stone Age and Iron Age artefacts and structures, and San rock paintings are the only traces left by these earlier people.

More recent history tells of mighty African empires carved out by strong leaders who subdued and incorporated lesser clans. The Swazi people are the majority group in Barberton. They came to the area in the early eighteenth century and became a nation under King Sobhuza in what is now the Kingdom of Swaziland. King Mswati II, who continued unification of the Swazi clans, was an adventurer at heart. He raided lands far and wide to the north of Swaziland, where he held various clans in subjection or simply drove them out of the area. After his death in 1865 a succession of less expansive royal leaders followed and currently, Mswati III is king of Swaziland.

Augusta Rogerto first discovered gold in Barberton on 20 June 1883. It was in 1884 that Graham Barber discovered a rich reef of gold in the area. A flood of diggers arrived on the scene and a hotch-potch of shacks, stores and canteens sprang up. On June 1884 David Wilson, mining commissioner of the De Kaap Valley, broke a bottle of gin over a lump of rock to christen the town, Baberton, thus launching it on a lively career.

During 1886 Barberton was at the height of its boom. Two stock exchanges traded night and day. Dozens of canteens, liquor shops and music halls competed with the mines to make the greatest profits in town. Flashy beauties such as Florrie the Golden Dane and Cockney Liz reigned over a frenetic night life. Cockney Liz was a particular favourite and would parade on a billiard table before her clientele and impishly snap her garters.

Other mushroomed -towns sprang up such as one Eureka City. 120 years ago a butcher initially of Durban with the moniker of Sherwood set up a hotel and, yes, a butchery on a spur of a mountain above the fever–ridden Lowveld valley. For a brief moment in time a vibrant Eureka City sat on top of Sheba Hill, a “plum pudding” of gold. It was Edwin Bray who looked to the hills to seek the source of gold being panned in the streams below. There were 15 partners in Edwin Bray’s Sheba Reef Gold Mining Company. By 1887 Eureka City had grown to a population of 700. Sherwood was selling meat at a rate of 10 oxen and 40 to 50 sheep a week from his butchery attached to his Queen of Sheba Hotel.

With the outbreak of the South African War in 1899, the town came under British military rule. Five block-houses were erected and the only one still in existence can be seen on the corner of Lee and Judge Streets. A concentration camp was established where the golf course is today. During the Second World War a military camp was situated to the east of the town to provide a military presence on the eastern frontier. This was in case Portugal and its Mozambique colony at the time were to fall into German hands. The regiments that were trained here built replicas of their regimental badges out of stone, cement and plaster in the Garden of Remembrance. The local MOTH organisation preserves these stone memorials at the foot of a small hill at the eastern gateway to the town.

Must visit destinations

The Lost City of Eureka is situated in the scenic Barberton Mountain lands. This is the sites of one of the richest gold discoveries in the earth’s history. Men’s endeavors to become rich quick, is evident in places like the Golden Cathedral. This is an amazing feat of human achievement and was entirely done by hand, more than a century ago. Barberton can boast as the town where South Africa's gold mining industry really began.

San rock art exists throughout the hills and mountains of the area, and visitors are afforded a glimpse into the lives of these interesting 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 fade of the Gold Stock Exchange, the first in South Africa, 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 the Stopforth and Fernlea Houses, two original wood and iron houses, which also contain museums. Another building of historical importance is the 1901 South African (Anglo-Boer) War blockhouse, while 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.

The beautiful De Kaap Valley is renowned for its ancient rock formations which are 4-billion years old, while the town itself is famed for its indigenous Barberton Daisies which flower in August through to December in explosive displays of red, pink, orange or yellow.

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 engineering.

Barberton offers numerous places of historical interest including the Lewis and Marks Building, the first double storey structure in Transvaal. The Gold Stock exchange ( 1887 ), Fernlea House ( 1893), Belhaven and Stopworth House ( 1886). The Barberton Museum on Pilgrim’s Street houses some excellent exhibits on aspects of early life in Barberton. The Bulembu Pass, a short distance south of town is one of the most outstanding scenic routes in Mpumalanga.

Perfect thermal conditions in the area mean that paragliding is popular and experienced pilots take off from the 425m high Lone Tree hill. Less daring challenges include numerous good hiking trails.