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Standard Bank  A replica of the Standard Bank of British South Africa in 1876.

 

Digger’s Cottage – No 19 Tucker Street  This home was built in 1878 in Tucker Street and now is the bridal suite of the Australian Arms. The Yeowart family lived in this house since 1913 when they bought it from a Mr Binyon. Mr Yeowart was an engine driver on the main skip at Kimberley Mine at the time he bought this house. After the War, he returned to the Kimberley Mine and got caught in a rock fall in 1919, and as a result lost his leg. He was then transferred to the Guarding Department and after he was pensioned ended up as a caretaker of the Kimberley Mine Reading Rooms. Here he taught his grand son to play billiards. It used to cost sixpence for half an hour to turn the lights on. After his death in 1951, his wife continued to stay in this house on a permanent basis until 1973. She sold the house to De Beers in 1975. Her son lived on The Hill opposite the Bowling Green and next to the Mine Managers house. There used to be a pathway throught the museum up “The Hill” quite close to the observation area, that led to the two houses, and about half way up, old Joe Carnell ( featured in the Skittle Alley photographs) built a metal seat under a pepper tree, so that she could rest when she walked up to visit her son. When she died on 7 March 1989, she was at the time De Beers’ oldest pensioner.

 

No 5 Tucker Street  One of the early Kimberley houses dating back to 1878. It now forms part of the Australian Arms Lodge. This was the house of Mr Holmes’ grand mother and he was born in this house. Mr Holmes bought Garlick’s enginering workshops, which he was running in 1908, and turned it into Holme’s Garage. He was one of the first clients of the Perm. He was born in 1904 and Dr Oliver Ashe delivered him. Mr Holme’s father used to look after Dr Ashe’s car and on the day that he was born, his father repaired the car again. After the delivery, the Dr gave his father one pound on condition that he put it to his son’s account at the South African Permanent Building Society.

 

Goodchild & Rothschild Auction Mart  Both A.T. Goodchild and “Baron” A.A. Rothschild operated as auctioners on the Diamond Fileds from early 1870. They formed their partnership in 1874. Rothschild in particular, was a well-known figure on the Diamond Fields.

R. Bodley & Son – Undertakers  Established in 1873 at 13 Barry Street. The horse drawn hearse was made by Dottridge Bros. of England. Known as a Washington Carriage. This one was first used in 1918 and was in service until 1934.

 

Haskell’s Reading Room & Billiard Saloon Established in the late 1870’s in Jones Street, Haskell’s was a popular meeting place for the inhabitants of Kimberley. Reading and recreation rooms were established by the mining companies and other private organisations for the young men of Kimberley who were in need of a homely resting place where they could spend pleasant evenings. No liquor was allowed, or gambling. The object of these centres was to provide young men with the current literature of the day as well as writing materials. Here they could smoke, read, write, play chess or billiards, draughts or cards. Musical evenings were held at regular intervals.

 

Holmes Garage Originally situated in Old Main Street during 1910. In 1967 they were employing approximately 600 people. He sold it later to the Barlow organisation. In 1911 they got the Ford franchise and had to order and sell 6 cars a month. They went to Canada to try and establish a Ford manufacturing plant in South Africa beacuase they had to wait for up to six months for a consignment of cars to arrive. Ford cars were selling for 500 -600 pounds and sometime to 800 pounds each. During the first World War, their cars and workshops were commandeered and the cars taken in convoy to South West Africa. Mr Holmes and his family were in England at this stage and on their return, everything were returned to them and they were compensated for the cars that were taken so they lost nothing.

The vehicles displayd are: Buck Board = This Buck Board was drawn by four mules and was first used before 1900 to convey parties on Springbok shoots on the De Beers farms.
Spider		Cape Cart
1906 Columbia Electric Victorian Pheaton – Made by the Electric Vehicle Co., Hartford, USA. Powered by three 12 volt batteries. Top speed 13 m.p.h. Duration 8 miles approximately between recharging.
Panhard and Levassor Light motor carraige – This was the first motor car to be seen in Kimberley. It was purchased by De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. In 1901 and used by the company’s General Manager.
Jewish Hearse -  The original hearse dates back to the turn of the last century. This box-like arrangement which is entirely of wood, was mounted on a wooden chassis with an enclosed driver’s seat and was drawn by two black horses. These horses were kept and supplied by Solomon’s Livery Stables, which were situated in Du Toits Pan Road, where Saambou were.
Round about 1926/27, with the advent of more motorised transport, the body of the hearse was removed and mounted on a Chevrolet six cylinder chassis and cab, purchased from Messrs Stern-Lacay Motors in De Beers Road adjacent to the Post Office. It has been used until recent years and 1800 miles recorded on it’s clock..(written in 1982)

 

Directors Coach  This saloon, which was bought by De Beers in 1898, five or six months after the siege of Kimberley was assembled in Johannesburg by an engineer specially sent out by the Pullman Company of America. It was used by De Beers directors on long business and pleasure trips. Two simmilar coaches was ordered from the Pullman Company. One, “Shangani” was slightly smaller than this one and was used to cary the remains of Rhodes to Rhodesia after his death in 1902. “Shangani, named after Rhodes’ ranch, is now on display at the Bullawayo Museum. Shangani was built in America and re-assembled here in South Africa after being transported by ship to South Africa. This coach was the last word in comfort and was sumptiously fitted out. It boasted a kitchenette, dining room, single and double bunks; while the toilet included a shower bath. A first class cheff was always available to provide the best cuisine. It was withdrawn from service in 1937. The railways then was not prepared to take the risk of pulling this coach with the new, faster and more powerful engines. It was moved to the Mine Museum in 1953.

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