Kimberley: Diamond History and Culture

Kimberley can be explored through places that offer different perspectives on diamond history, remembrance and art. The Big Hole Visitor Centre presents the history of diamonds, the people who searched for them, the tools they used and the wealth that resulted. Memorial sites recall different historical experiences, while museums and a gallery focus on subjects including literature, photography and art. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Kimberley, these themes can help you assess the destination in light of your travel interests.

Diamond history at the Big Hole

The Big Hole Visitor Centre focuses on the complex history of diamonds, the people who searched for them, the tools they used and the wealth that resulted. From the visitor centre, guests can join a guided tour led by a site guide; individuals and families do not need to book. The Big Hole site is wheelchair accessible. The history of transport is also connected to the site: the tramway established by the Victoria Tramways Company transported people to the Big Hole from 1887.

Memorial sites recalling different chapters

The Honoured Dead Memorial is a provincial heritage site in Kimberley. It commemorates those who defended the city during the 124-day Siege of Kimberley in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 to 1902 and died in the process. The Malay Camp Memorial has a different historical connection: it is dedicated to the people of Malay Camp who were forcibly removed from their homes between 1939 and 1959. The memorial sites therefore differ in their historical and chronological focus—from the siege and those killed in it to forced removal from home.

Art, literature and collections

William Humphreys Art Gallery

The William Humphreys Art Gallery is located in Kimberley’s Civic Centre and opened in 1952. It is named after its principal benefactor, William Benbow Humphreys (1889–1965). Its activities include temporary exhibitions, enrichment classes for preschool children, arts and crafts workshops for unemployed women, lectures, video screenings and concerts. Art workshops, mainly aimed at children, are also among its activities. These formats include exhibitions and events as well as a range of art education programmes.

Literature and photography

The Sol Plaatje House Museum houses a library of African literature and features exhibitions about Sol Plaatje’s life and Africans’ involvement in the Anglo-Boer War. Literature and historical subjects are therefore at the heart of the museum. The Duggan-Cronin Gallery is an outpost of the McGregor Museum. It houses part of the photographic archive and collection of ethnographic artefacts belonging to photographer Alfred Martin Duggan-Cronin (1874–1954). The collection’s limited scope and its connection to a single photographer give it a different focus from the library and exhibition themes at the Sol Plaatje House Museum.

Art education in the Northern Cape

The William Humphreys Art Gallery’s outreach programme extends beyond Kimberley: it takes graphic art exhibitions to smaller towns in the Northern Cape, where learners are introduced to art. This regional perspective complements the museum, memorial and gallery themes connected to Kimberley with another perspective on art education.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: West End, Barkly West, Hartswater.

Back to the main travel overview: Frances Baard.