The old town is a collection of historic Kimberley buildings that have been brought back to life and feature shops and food outlets open to the public.
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Blacksmith’s Shop
Run by the late Mr. H. Coombes, it includes a large bellows and a forge and many tools obsolete today. The wrought-iron gates were made by Mr. Coombes for the Kimberley Exhibition of 1892.
A Ciring - Pawnbroker
Mr. A Ciring established it in 1900 to supply an essential element in the often precarious life of the early diggers. The pawnbroker formed an integral part of the miners life. They were in continual debt. Thus, in his shop, Mr. A Ciring, had numerous articles – rifles, keys, teaspoons, mirrors, photographs and many more such articles.In 1901 his office was at 10 Barry Street and then in 1906 he moved to 3 New Main Street.
Bandstand
This typical Victorian cast-iron bandstand is set in a cobbled shopping concourse. This replica was assembled by De Beers engineers from scrap – some of which may well have come from the old Swiss Café, reminds us of the bandstand concerts that were the feature of the social life of the town up to the first World War. The concerts usually in the moonlight were given by several brass and pipe bands from similar bandstands in Queens Park, Gladstone Park and Beaconsfield Park.
William Shilling
One of the early miniral water factories on Kimberley, it was established in 1876 in Old De Beers Road and became Sullivan’s in 1950. The bottle cleaning machine forms the centre of the shop. An array of bottles can be seen here, which adds to the atmosphere of the shop. This earated water manufactury was established by Mr Carrolson in 1882. This firm was so enertprising in their time in Kimberley that they employed three wagons and a stud of 10 horses and they employed many hands.
The factory could turn out 4500 bottles of soda water per day and also produced ginger beer.
Art Metropole
Established before 1904, this well-known art shop sold pictures, artist material and ceramics.
The business was begun by a Mr Percy James who did picture framing and may have sold pictures too, in a shop in Pan Road. Miss J. Ross bought the business and opened it in Chapel Street. Mrs Dassie Schmidt and her sister Flo took over from her in 1926. It closed down in 1942 when the second World War broke out and they no longer could get supplies for the shop. They sold Artists’ materials, gits, novelties and curios as well as the workshop for framing and mounting pictures, as well as selling framed paintings and prints. They also stocked embroidery transfers (British) and the embroidery cottons and neddles for working them when ironed on to linen as well as the ready articles.
The picture frame mouldings were imported from England as well as the glass as these had to be clear and without bubbles or blemishes of any kind.
Hazell Ballan
A haberdashery store established before 1877 in Main Street. They sold fancy goods from dainty lace to beaded articles, buttons, hand crocheted garments, material and wools.
Leo Simmons
Established in 1896 in 3-5 Du Toitspan Road, this shop sold many and varied articles, but especially musical instruments. Mr Simmons had the box office for operatic performances and concerts and was the sole agent for the Theatre Co. Ltd. He was on the Diaomnd fields for over 25 years. He was the pioneer of the musical trade.
In the shop, musical instruments of all discriptions – gramophones, violins, old sheet music and a unique pedal organ are to be seen.
J Perilly
Established in 1898 in 14 Stockdale Street, Perylly’s was one of the first tobacconists. They stocked Royal and Crown cigarettes and Perilly cigarettes which were known internationally. Mr John Perilly started the South African branch of his Glascom establishment for hand making sigarettes.
Blacklaws Shoe Shop
Established in 1882 by Mr M Harrison, the shop was subsequently taken over by Mr David Blacklaws when it moved to Du Toits Pan Road. When Mr. Blacklaws died in 1972, it closed down.
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