Kimberley

Kimberley is a town in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape province. Diamonds were discovered in 1866, on the banks of the Orange River and on Colesborg Kopge hill in 1871 which led to massive diamond rush into the area. The Hill disappeared and what resulted was the Big Hole, a big tourist draw. The town New Rush was formed and which was renamed Kimberley in 1873 after at the time British Secretary of States for the Colonies, who happened to be the first Earl of Kimberley. De Beers Company was the biggest company operating diamond mine in South Africa. Kimberley became the largest city in the area. In 1882, Kimberley became the first city in the southern hemisphere to install electric street lighting. The importance of Kimberley led to one of earliest South African and International Exhibitions being held in Kimberley in 1892. Opened by Sir Henry Loch, then the Governor of Cape Good Hope. The exhibition showed exhibits of art, an exhibition of paintings from Queen Victoria royal collection and mining machinery and minings implements and much more.

Kimberley always received favorable attention from South Africa capital as it was a famous African city and while not one of the largest African cities it did count as the best African city. First South Africa's school of mines opened here in 1896 and later shifted to Johannesburg, becoming the center of University of Witwatersrand. The initial two years attendance colleges in Capetown, Grahams Ttown or Stellenbosch, the third year in Kimberley and the fourth year in Johannesburg. Buildings got constructed for cost of 9000 pounds with De Beers contribution at pound for pound. In 1913, South African flying school, the first opened there for training pilots of South African Aviation Corps and then South African Air Force. Kimberley with Big Hole as tourist attraction is one of best cities in Africa. It is also one of best world cities.