Discover Cullinan: Diamond History and Local Culture

Cullinan combines the history of diamond mining with museums, churches, and a distinctive streetscape. When looking for a hotel, these themes can help shape your trip: from tour options at the old diamond mine and diamond cutting to historic photographs, church art, and antique shops. This lets you choose whether to focus your trip planning on mining, local history, sacred art, or the streetscape.

Diamond History and Mining

Three types of tours are offered at the old diamond mine in Cullinan: surface, motorized, and underground tours. The names refer to the surface and underground settings, as well as to a motorized tour format. At the Diamond Hub in Cullinan, you can view replicas of some of the most famous Cullinan diamonds and watch a diamond-cutting demonstration. The tour options focus on the mining town, while the replicas and demonstration put diamonds and how they are cut at the center.

The open-pit mine in Cullinan is considered three times the size of Kimberley's Big Hole.

History in Images and Objects

On a tour of the McHardy House Museum, visitors can view old family photographs and hear stories about Cullinan's mining pioneers. The combination of personal photographs and stories focuses on the people associated with the town's mining history.

The Cullinan Tourism and History Building displays historic objects from the past of the village and the mine. These include a DVD with photographs from 1902 and newsreel footage from 1912. The photographs from 1902 and the newsreel footage from 1912 differ both in date and in medium. The open-air mining museum displays various pieces of equipment used at the Premier Mine over the years. The three institutions have different focuses: family photographs and pioneer stories, the history of the village and mine told through historical records, and equipment from the Premier Mine.

Oak Avenue and Antique Shops

Cullinan's Oak Avenue is lined with large oak trees, as well as shops, cafés, and restaurants in a traditional style. The avenue offers a different focus from the mine and museums: here, the streetscape, dining, and local businesses shape the picture. Cullinan also has several antique shops, adding another shopping option in town.

Church Architecture and Sacred Art

The Presbyterian Church in Cullinan was built in 1908, and Thomas Cullinan laid its foundation stone. St. Peters Catholic Church is also located on Oak Avenue. It contains a cycle of oil paintings of the Stations of the Cross, which Donald McHardy donated to the church in 1913 after his father died. The dates mark two distinct historical events: 1908 refers to the construction of the church, and 1913 to the donation of the painting cycle.

Group Events

Jan Harmsgat se Agterplaas is considered a venue for group events.

Discover more destinations: Rayton, Tierpoort, Bronkhorstspruit.

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