Category Archives: History

A Short Biography of General Sir Redvers Buller, Victor of the Battle of Long Tom Pass

Redvers Henry Buller was to become a controversial figure but in 1895 he was at the height of his career as Adjutant General of the British Army. He had had a distinguished career, serving in most of the hot spots … Continue reading

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The History of South African Forest Investments

The origin of SA Forest Investments is intimately linked to the fortunes of the gold mining industry in the Sabie and Pilgrims Rest areas. In the late 1800’s the Transvaal Gold Mining Estates operated mines under the control of The … Continue reading

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A Short Biography of Hans Merensky, Renowned Prospector, Successful Farmer and Philathropist

Hans Merensky was born 1n 1871 at his father (Alexander Merensky’s) mission station at Botshabello north of Middelburg. His father’s wide and varied interests and sense of adventure were not the only influences on Merensky’s life. He was also widely … Continue reading

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A Short Biography of Tom McLachlan, Prospector

Karl Mauch’s prophecies about the presence of Gold through the Escarpment below the Drakensberg Range of the old Transvaal were taken seriously by a number of eager prospectors. Some of them were Button, Sutherland, McLachlan and Parsons. Button journeyed up … Continue reading

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The History of the Sabie Gorge and Malieveld Hydro-electric Powerstations

From 1881 established companies, the most notable being Transvaal Gold Mining Estates, Ltd. (TGME) and Messrs. Glynn’s Lydenburg Ltd. took over the mines and converted from alluvial mining to reef mining. Small operators also continued mining and even after the … Continue reading

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Impressions Gained from the Diary of Florence Brooke Shires Diarist of Brooklands

Florence eventually married Joseph Brooke Shires, who seems to have been a country boy himself, from a more or less similar background. He must have been a man of means being able to buy the farm “Onverwacht” which he named … Continue reading

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Swann’s Race

One of the Spitzkop diggers was particularly famous. He was an individual named John Swann. He had made a rich strike somewhere near Spitzkop, but always kept it a close secret. Working on his own at night, he contrived to … Continue reading

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The Battle of The Long Tom Pass

The Pass was named after the final conventional Anglo Boer War battle that took place on the slopes of Mauchsberg between Lydenburg and Sabie, reaching a peak summit of almost 2000 meters. A replica of the Long Tom cannon stands … Continue reading

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The Persistent Legend of the Kruger Millions Raises its Head Once Again

The story of the Kruger Millions is a legend that refuses to die, although history has (supposedly) disproved the existence of the treasure; searchers are however still hunting for the elusive treasure. The Anglo-Boer war and events at the time … Continue reading

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…a Snippet and a Poem or two from Percy Fitzpatrick during his Barberton Days

A “Barbertonian” is a special sort of person who sees himself as a member of a close-knit clan. The other members of this clan are people who live, or used to live in the finest place in South Africa, if … Continue reading

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