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J Pritchett – Tailor  In 1910, J Pritchett’s tailor shop moved from 26 Stockdale Street around the corner to Gowie’s Corner, where it occupied the entire premises. Pritchett styled himself as a “high class London tailor”.

Gunning & Towel Established in early 1880 in Du Toitspan Road. This gents outfitters took pride in supplying fashionable gent’s clothing to the population of Kimberley.

The Farm House  This is a replica of a typical farm house of the period. It  represents the farm house of Johannes Nicolaas De Beer and his brother Diederick Arnoldus who paid £50 for the farm on which both De Beers Mine and Kimberley Mine were established. They sold it in 1871, a few months after the discovery of Diamonds, for £6 300.

 

Gowie Brothers  In 1871 Mr Gowie commenced business on the Diamond Market as a general outfitter with his two sons as partners. At the end of 1886 they moved to the corner of Du Toits Pan Road and Jones Street in a building that was specially built for them. This building had a double story and a clock tower. The fornt part of the shop was used for the clothing department and the Jones Street entrance is for shoes and boots. The place was lighted out with electricity and it was one of the best lit shops in Kimberley. They also sold schrubs, flowers and all pot plants which they received weekly from Grahamstown. They closed shop in 1910 and Prichard, the tailor moved into the building.The building was moved to the museum in 1971. Gowie’s old site is now occupied by Foschini.

 

Abrahams & Co  These “American” stores were established in 1876 in Old Main Street. They sold groceries, wines, spirits and household requirements. In an article in Kimberley Illustrated 1902 the following was written: In 1876 Mr Abrahams opened a grocery store in Old Main Street and just like the creepers in a garden, spreading in all directions, so did the business of Mr Abrahams begin to extend in every direction. Eight years ago (1894) the firm removed to their present place, and finding that it was too small for the amount of stock that it was necessary to carry on the business, they had the old place pulled down and the present large substancial place erected. It has a frontage of 50 feet by 200 feetdepth, and is the largest place we have seen in Kimberley. We were shown over the establishement by Mr Lionel Abrahams who is comparatively a young man, and to control the largest grocery, wine and spirit store in Kimberley, with every indication of success, speaks highly in his praise, and is an admirable proof of what he is and will be capable of doing in the future. The trade of the firm is in groceries, wines and spirits, ironmongery, and all household requisits. The front store is devoted to groceries, ironmongery etc. At the back we saw piles of cases of wines, spirits, beer and reserve stocks of groceries. A large staff is constantly employed, sending out orders and attending to the wants of their various customers. At the time of the siege in Kimberley the rush to the firms store was so great that six policemen were engaged to keep the crowd in order. As the shop became full the doors were closed until those inside received their wants and one notable fact was that the firm never raised their prices.

 

Bromwich’s Dispensary  Established in 1871 in Main Street, Bultfontein. Suppliers of pharmaceutical equipment and medicines.

J.H. Bodley Established in 1878, he started off as a debt-collector. In 1896 he added cigar importing to his business, and it developed into a tobacconist and fancy goods store. Finally, in 1924, he became an established hair-dresser as well as a tobacconist in 34 Pan Road.

 

E.H.W. Awty  Established in 1898 at 69 Jones Street, he was a well known watchmaker of the day.

Dr E.O. Ashe A reconstruction of a doctor’s surgery of the early 1900’s.

 

Dr J.M. Osborne - Dentist A reconstruction of a dentist’s surgery of the early 1900’s.  The display includes much of the early equipment and items of special interest are a Roëntgen Dental X-Ray tube which dates to the last century, and a real human skull which was used for the study of dental anatomy.

 

D.W. Greatbatch – Architect and Engineer  A reconstruction of the office of D.W. Greatbatch.. He was trained at St Andrews College in Grahamstown and was possibly the first South African trained architect of note. He came to Kimberley in 1888. He knew Cecil Rhodes personally and was at one time a city councillor. Buildings designed by him includes: De Beers Head Office, School of mines, Kimberley Boys High School, Kimberley Girls High School, the Synagogue, St Cyprians Anglican Cathedral, Alexanderfontein Hotel, The Sanatorium (now Mc Gregor Museum), all the houses in Lodge Road and many in Carrington Road.

Building Society Chambers  This is a replica of the building erected at 31-35 Stockdale Street in 1888 by the South African Permanent Building Society and was its Head Office until 1912. The Perm was founded in Kimberley in 1883. Opened here on 23 September 1983.

Skittle Alley  A replica of the 1903 Alexandersfontein Skittle Alley. The earliest verifyable clue to man’s passion for bowling was unearthed in the 1930’s on a site near Cairo dating from 5200 Bca curious collection of objects were found – three stone balls, nine conical shaped pins and a few pieces of marble. Although Egyptians might have been the first bowlers of the civilized world, there is evidence that the game was enjoyed by Greeks and Romans around 2000 BC.

Australian Arms  One of the original pubs of Kimberley established in 1873. In 1915 the original wood and iron building was replaced by the present brick structure.

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