Cullinan, Gauteng

Cullinan

The main street in Cullinan
Cullinan
Cullinan
Cullinan

 Cullinan shown within Gauteng

Coordinates: 25°40′22″S 28°31′15″E / 25.67278°S 28.52083°E / -25.67278; 28.52083Coordinates: 25°40′22″S 28°31′15″E / 25.67278°S 28.52083°E / -25.67278; 28.52083
Country South Africa
Province Gauteng
Municipality City of Tshwane
Established 1903
Area[1]
 • Total 55.66 km2 (21.49 sq mi)
Elevation 1,450 m (4,760 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 8,693
 • Density 160/km2 (400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 64.3%
 • Coloured 2.7%
 • Indian/Asian 0.5%
 • White 31.7%
 • Other 0.8%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Afrikaans 48.9%
 • Northern Sotho 15.6%
 • English 9.2%
 • Sotho 5.9%
 • Other 20.3%
Postal code (street) 1000
PO box 1000
Area code 012
Website http://www.cullinan.za.net/

Cullinan is a small town 30 km (19 mi) east of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. It is a small town along the diamond route that is heavily reliant on tourism and the mine that dominates the skyline. The town is named after diamond magnate Sir Thomas Cullinan.

History

In 1898 Sir Thomas Cullinan was handed a three carat diamond found along a farm fence. He studied the area and came to the conclusion that the diamond was washed down from a nearby hill. Sir Cullinan made an attempt to buy the land from the owner, Joachim Prinsloo, but did not succeed. After Prinsloo's death, he was able to purchase the land for ₤52,000 from Prinsloo's daughter.[2] The Cullinan kimberlite was discovered in 1902 and in 1903 open pit mining commenced. The mine was named the Premier mine.

On 25 June 1905, the famed Cullinan Diamond, the largest in the world at 3,106 carats (621.2 g), was discovered by Frederick George Stanley Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company. It was bought by the Transvaal government and presented to King Edward VII.

The town of Cullinan owes its existence to the diamond mining in this area, much like Kimberly in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

Geography

Cullinan is situated in the Highveld region of South Africa. The town has an elevation of 1476 m (4842.52 ft)[3] and is located at -25.6709 [latitude in decimal degrees], 28.5236 [longitude in decimal degrees]. The closest city is Pretoria being 40 km (25 mi) away, while Johannesburg is 100 km (62 mi) away.

Government

Cullinan formed part of the Nokeng tsa Taemane Local Municipality until 18 May 2011. Due to mismanagement of funds, this municipality was disbanded and incorporated into the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.[4]

Cullinan
Crime rates (2012)
Crime type Rate*
Homicide:3
Forcible rape:14
Robbery:33
Aggravated assault:46
Burglary:97
Motor vehicle theft:14
Arson:4
Total property crime:50
Notes
* Number of reported crimes per 100,000 population.
Source: Crime stats SA

Tourism

Tours

Various operators offer tours around Cullinan. Tourists can choose between tours around town, within the mining area and even underground mining tours. Various means of transportation is used to provide these tours, the most popular being on an open vehicle or on foot.

Museums

There are a few museums in the area in and around Cullinan. A few of the most popular ones are:

Adventure

The mountainous terrain surrounding Cullinan offers multiple activities for more adventure-oriented people, like:

There is also an annual mountain bike race called the Cullinan Diamond Rush.

Sandstone house
A sandstone house now being used as a restaurant.
Sandstone street
The street containing sandstone cottages, now used as shops and restaurants.
Mine Pit
The pit from the open pit mining.
Mine
The mine forms the main source of income. Cullinan is in the background.
Tourism activities

Architecture

St. Georges Anglican church

The church was designed by British architect Herbert Baker, who was a dominant figure in South African architecture between 1892-1912. The church was built in 1904 as the parish church for the miners. The church is a simple square structure with a corrugated iron roof.[9] The first recorded meeting was held on April 22, 1906.

Cullinan hospital

The hospital was built in 1907, and was officially opened by Annie Cullinan,[10] wife of Sir Thomas Cullinan. It served only the European miners back then, but now serves the need of all the people living in Cullinan.[11] The hospital has since closed down.

Nedbank

The Nedbank building was built around 1908. The building is still in use today by the bank.[12]

Masonic lodge

The Premier Diamond Masonic Lodge was consecrated in the Cullinan School Hall and met there until 1909 when the new lodge building was completed at a cost of ₤1200. A feature of the Lodge's history has been the number of times it has been forced into recess, whether because of war, as in 1914 to 1916, disturbances leading to martial law, 1921 to 1922, and the closing down of the diamond mine (the main source of members) during the depression, 1932 to 1941. However the Second World War saw military forces stationed on the mine and an adjoining farm and this helped the lodge to get restarted. Then in 1945 the mine was reopened, restoring 'normality' to Cullinan, and since then the lodge's progress has been steady and sound. The lodge is still in use and looks the same as it did 100 years ago, having been preserved by active members.[13]

Anglican church
The Anglican church designed by Herbert Baker.
Hospital
The hospital in 1908, still being used today.
Masonic lodge building
Picture of the Lodge around 1920.
Mine
The Nedbank building is still being used today, here pictured around 1908.
Architecture

Climate

Climate data for Cullinan, South Africa
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C 30 30 28 26 24 21 21 24 28 29 29 29 27
Average low °C 18 18 16 13 8 5 5 8 12 15 16 17 13
Average rainfall mm 104 113 83 44 18 3 1 2 21 71 108 108 56
Average high °F 86 86 82 79 75 70 70 75 82 84 84 84 81
Average low °F 64 64 61 55 46 41 41 46 54 59 61 63 55
Average rainfall inches 4.09 4.45 3.27 1.73 0.71 0.12 0.04 0.08 0.83 2.8 4.25 4.25 2.2
Source: [14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Cullinan". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ Sale of the farm
  3. ↑ Elevation
  4. ↑ Municipality disbanded
  5. ↑ History room cullinan
  6. ↑ McHardy house museum
  7. ↑ Zonderwater POW museum
  8. ↑ Sammy Marks Archived May 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ Elphick, Richard (1997). Christianity in South Africa: A Political, Social, and Cultural History. University of California Pres. p. 345. ISBN 0520209400.
  10. ↑ Annie Cullinan Genealogy
  11. ↑ Hospital
  12. ↑ Nedbank Cullinan
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ ["http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Cullinan-weather-averages/Gauteng/ZA.aspx" "World Weather Online"] Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 16 May 2013.
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