Discover Postmasburg

Postmasburg can be explored through several clearly distinct points of interest: the town was declared a town in 1892; the first diamond was discovered in 1918; and the open-cast mine was permanently flooded in 1935. The town’s architectural and commemorative history is also reflected in a Dutch Reformed church and a gun at the civic centre. White salt pans and Blinkklipkop are also a short distance away or in the surrounding area. This mix connects historical themes in the town with the region’s landscape and cultural heritage.

Town History and Mining

Postmasburg was declared a town in 1892 and named after Rev. J. Postma, a founding member of the Dutch Reformed Church. The first diamond in Postmasburg was discovered in 1918. There were 26 years between the town’s declaration and this discovery. The open-cast mine was flooded in 1935, a further 17 years later. The three dates thus mark different milestones: town status, the first diamond discovery, and the permanent flooding of the open-cast mine.

The permanent flooding of the open-cast mine in 1935 created the Big Hole, which is over 45 m deep. It is filled with fish. An open-cast mine is a mine at the earth’s surface; in Postmasburg, its flooding is the specific historical point of reference. The Big Hole thus connects mining with the subsequently flooded pit.

Church and Commemoration

The Dutch Reformed church, built from blue dolomite, was constructed in 1908. Its denomination and building material make it a religious building of note, while the dates of the diamond discovery and flooding mark the town’s mining history. The church thus broadens the picture to include the town’s religious architectural history. If you are interested in religious buildings, it is a distinct historical point of interest in Postmasburg.

The “Howitzer Gun” stands at the civic centre. It commemorates the men from Postmasburg who died in the Second World War. This site is dedicated to remembrance and is therefore distinct from the church’s architectural history. For anyone interested in local memorial sites, the gun adds a connection to wartime history alongside the themes of urban development and mining.

Landscape and Early History in the Surrounding Area

White salt pans are a short distance from Postmasburg. They are a landscape feature of the surrounding area, unlike the church and the gun, which are located in the town. This distinction helps you separate the town’s history from landscape-related points of interest around Postmasburg.

Blinkklipkop is also in the area around Postmasburg. There is evidence that the Khoisan mined specularite there from as early as 700 AD. This early historical connection differs markedly from the dates associated with the town’s later history and mining. The reference to specularite mining belongs to Blinkklipkop and forms a distinct historical point of interest in the surrounding area.

There are also braai facilities at Blinkklipkop. If you plan to use them during a visit, check in advance what visitor access is available and whether the facilities can be used.

Discover more destinations: Kenhardt, Riemvasmaak, Rietfontein, Askham.

For the broader travel overview: Benede Oranje.