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Barberton & Eureka City

Location: Eastern Transvaal (View location on map)

Minerals Worked: Gold

Principal Mines: Sheba Mine, La Fortuna Mine, Ivy Mine  

Background History:

The mining township lies

In1881 Tom McLachlan discovered alluvial gold at Jamestown in what was later to become the Barberton region. However due to the find spot's location in the hot Lowveld region, which was rife with malaria, nobody wanted to go there. It wasn't until 20th June 1883 when Auguste Roberts (French Bob) discovered gold in Concession Creek that real interest in the area's mineral potential was triggered off.

On 21st June 1884, Graham Barber wrote a letter to the State Secretary to inform him that he and his two cousins Fred and Harry discovered payable gold on state land where the Umvoti Creek entered the De Kaap valley. The State Secretary then asked the Magistrate in Lydenburg to investigate the matter and for David Wilson, the Gold Commissioner, to submit a report. Wilson investigated on 24th July of the same year and declared the township of Barberton.

At first it was just a simple mining camp but grew when Edwin Bray, a prospector discovered gold in the hills above Barberton in 1885 and with 14 partners started the Sheba Reef Gold Mining Company.

Large amounts of money flowed into Barberton and the first Stock Exchange to operate in the then Transvaal opened its doors. More buildings were erected, billiard saloons and music halls established. The Criterion and Royal Standard hotels were opened.

Barberton flourished for only a brief period and soon the inhabitants began to move away to the newly discovered goldfields on the Reef.

The Postcards

The webmaster knows of the following mining related postcard view from this area.

"Thumbnail" Images  (Note 1)	Card Title or Description	Card  Ref. No.
Sheba Valley & Eureka City
	Sheba G.M. Co., Main Working Adit.	PC115
	The Sheba Valley - Transvaal	PC12
	Sheba G.M.Co., Barberton, Transvaal.	PC15
	Sheba G.M. Coy., (Cyanide Works,) Barberton, Transvaal.	PC17
	The Sheba valley - De Kaap	PC18
	Wire Rope on the Sheba Mine near Barberton.	PC14
	Zig Zag + Eureka City.	PC20
		PC163
Other Mining Locations Plus Miscellaneous
	Entrance to Highlands Creek, Moodies, near Barberton.	PC19
	La Fortuna G.M. Co Barberton	PC163
		PC167

Notes:

1) For further information and enlarged views of each postcard click on any one of the above images.

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