For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Pilgrims Rest - Part 2

"Alanglade", which used to be the residence of the director of the Transvaal Gold Mining Estate Ltd, furnished with pieces of the 1920s.
The "Drezden Shop" is the town's historic general store. Here one could buy anything, groceries, whisky, tools, household articles and much more.
A lot of old merchandise is exhibited in the store.
The old newspaper printing office and the Royal Hotel are also open to visitors. And at Pilgrim's Creek visitors can still today try their luck at gold washing.
The first site in the history of South African archaeology where gold objects were excavated, was Mapungubwe in Limpopo province, dating to 1,000 - 1,300 AD.
Together with Great Zimbabwe and Thulamela, Mapungubwe formed part of a complex trading culture through which the gold of Africa reached Arabia, India and Phoenicia.
A number of insignificant gold deposits were discovered in the northern parts of South Africa between 1840 and 1870.
But the first gold rush in South Africa took place in 1873 when payable gold was discovered on the farm Geelhoutboom near the town of Sabie (5km from Pilgrim's Rest - as the crow flies).
President Burgers, who visited the site, officially named the area the New Caledonian Gold Fields, but he jokingly referred to it as "MacMac" and the name stuck. Everyone referred to it as the MacMac Diggings.
The ore was transported to the Reduction Works (build in 1897).
As the demand grew for crushing ever-increasing volumes of gold ore, the mine engineers soon realised that what they needed was electricity.
This was generated in small hydro-electric plants until the Belvedere hydro-electric power plant in the Blyde River Canyon was completed in 1911. This 2,000 Kw power station was, at its time, the largest hydro-electric power station in the Southern hemisphere and Pilgrim's Rest was the second town in South Africa (after Kimberly) to be electrified.

36 comments:

Andrea said...

A very interesting post.
You are always very clear when you explain something.

Bye

Life in Egypt said...

excellent post nice photos of some real old machines. I see the old one seater job has the same problem as the ones in England the bottom tee hinge always rusted or came loose from the rotting wood.

Diane said...

It is great to be back online again and able to catch up with your wonderful photos that always pull at my heart strings. I have such wonderful memories of several visits with friends to Pilgrim's Rest. As for your earlier blog, yes I think you can get over deaths and memories but they are never forgotten. It is a tough life sometimes as I have found from experience. Diane

Diane said...

I forgot to add - my mind just boggles at the position of the pumpkin, I am sure it is not to improve the flavour!!

Life in Egypt said...

The pumpkin is there to stop the roof blowing off.

blog with no name said...

Wow! Pumpkin Pie, Nothing like pumpkin pie after a good session in the out house!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Joan: Cool shots at the mine, back from Europe and still recovering.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Andrea. They say a picture paints a thousand words but sometimes a little explination helps it along.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Tony. This one probably comes from there as most of our stuff did in those day with us being a British colony.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Nice to see you back Diane. I wondered what had happened to you. I am sure it is nice to see all these old favourite places again but it is about time you came back for a visit so you can go there yourself. It is not good to be away from home for so long. :)

Yes, things do fade in time but memories are always there.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Diane: I am not sure I would want to eat it either. LOL!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! I will definitely NOT be making pie out of that one Mike.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

You are probably right Tony but could they not use bricks? :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Great to see you back again Tom. I hope the trip and tour was a success. I am looking forward to seeing your posts on it.

sandy said...

Totally enjoyed the catch up and just got through reading Geogypsy's post.

S said...

Hi Joan! I agree with your first commenter - you always provide readers with so much information. I certainly learnt a lot more about Pilgrim's Rest reading your post than I did when we went on a school trip there in Grade 6! If I remember correctly, there is like a cemetry there right?

Happy Easter to you!! I hope the bunny brings you lots of chocolates :o)

Diane AZ said...

Pilgrims Rest looks picturesque and sounds like an interesting place to visit. Perhaps the pumpkin keeps the roof from blowing off?

Tony nile life said...

did not finish the bird blog Joan.
Todays post is now finished

Vagabonde said...

Thank you for coming on my blog and commenting. I just published a post on the Cherokee Indian Art Market – you said to let you know. In my post I also mentioned the other four posts I have published in connection to our visit to the Cherokee Reservation. Thanks for visiting. I enjoyed reading about the historical mining town in your country, we also had gold in the North Georgia mountains in the 1850s.

Unknown said...

What interesting posts! So much to see at the Pilgrims Rest. Lovely shots!

Becky said...

Wow what a trip Joan. How interesting. I love history about old towns, and I don't know about that pumpkin either. LOL, I think somebody just put it there to see how many people would wonder why it's up on the roof.
B.

young-eclectic-encounters said...

Every time I come to your blog I learn or see something new. I love that about your blog. Johnina :^D

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Hi Sandy. Gaelyn and I had a great time and it was such a pleasure to meet her and be able to show her a small bit of my country. I am hoping she will come back next year too.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Sreddy. Yes, you are right about the cemetry. In it is buried a highwayman but because he was a bad man, he is buried facing west instead of east.

Hope you got lots of Easter eggs too and did not gorge yourself on them. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It sure has a wonderful history Diane. You might be right about the pumpkin but could they not have used stones or bricks? I do wonder if they will eat it? :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I saw the other pictures Tony and those in-flight pictures are fantastic.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks for visiting and commenting Vagabonde.

What a wonderful post that is on the Cherokee!! It was very informative and I loved the other posts too. That market is definitely a wonderful place to spend a day with very talented people puting things on display. Thank you for letting me know about it.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Jose. Another place for you to see when you are next here. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! I think you are right Becky. I wonder if anyone even thought it strange? :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thank you for your kind words Johnina. I am pleased you find things of interest here. :)

Rambling Woods said...

Yeah..what is that pumpkin doing up there...some people say you should put your money into gold as it never loses its value...

Zane said...

I am fast becoming an armchair tourist. Thanks Joan. Lovely series on Pilgrims Rest. Did you find any gold?

PS. Please have a look at my latest blog post - 6 April 2010 - Strange Big - Spider, tick, mite? I would really value your comment on the creature.

http://zanephotoblog.blogspot.com/

All are welcome.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

That is if we had the money in the first place Michelle. :) That pumpkin really has me puzzled. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I am glad you can travel with me Zane. :) It is great being able to share these places with everyone. I will check out your blog now....

myonlyphoto said...

Lol for the pumpkin too, that was funny. Anna :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I had a good laugh at it too. What were they thinking of?? LOL!!