Rayton
Encyclopedia
Rayton is a town in North-Eastern Gauteng
, South Africa
.
'Rayton Junction', as it was first known, started out as a tin shack mining town on the farm Elandshoek.
During its boom days the town served the needs of thousands of diggers and prospecters working for the Schiller, Montrose and Dunmore mining companies. This mini diamond rush was sparked by Sir Thomas Cullinan
's discovery of a kimberlite
diamond pipe in the town since named after him.
The original Rayton Junction was laid out along a spur of the main NZASM
railway line, which was completed in 1895 to connect the Republic of Transvaal's capital, Pretoria
to the port in Delagoabay, Mozambique
. Officials in the Montrose Diamond Mining Company did the town planning and named the hamlet after Lady Rachel Ray Williston, wife of the company's first manager, Colonel Balliston.
The town's first—and then only—brick building was the original magistrate’s office, which dates from this early time.
During the Second World War Italian prisoners of war were interned at Zonderwater just north of town, and massive military logistics and supply depots were established between Cullinan
and Rayton.
After the war, the Stella Diamond Mining Company bought the land around the town and declared a peri-urban municipality with relatively cheap properties. Rayton's proximity to Pretoria's expanding eastern suburbs allowed steady growth from the 1970s into the latter part of the 20th century. Today, Rayton is a thriving town that serves the need of prison wardens at the nearby Zonderwater Prison, staff at the Cullinan diamond mine as well as the surrounding farming community, with the Willem Prinsloo agricultural museum celebrating the area's rich agricultural history on the farm Kleinfontein
. Many settled town residents have found employment in surrounding suburbs of Pretoria
.
.
Bennie Labuschgane: 1992 Olympian, three-time African champion, Commonwealth Games medallist and named one of South Africa's six Wrestler's of the 20th Century, now Head Coach of University of Pretoria
's wrestling club.
Kees Legemaat, resident dairy farmer and director of the northern region of the South African Milk Producers' Organisation * http://www.mbendi.com/orgs/1279/e883.htm.
Lucas C Viljoen, pedagoque, pioneer of South Africa's parallel medium school system and mentor of black principals in rural areas * http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Viljoen&action=submit.
Alwyn Viljoen, print and radio journalist specialising in transport * https://www.talkinransport.blogspot.com.
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
'Rayton Junction', as it was first known, started out as a tin shack mining town on the farm Elandshoek.
During its boom days the town served the needs of thousands of diggers and prospecters working for the Schiller, Montrose and Dunmore mining companies. This mini diamond rush was sparked by Sir Thomas Cullinan
Cullinan
-Surname:*Cormac Cullinan , South African attorney and author*Daryll Cullinan , South African cricketer*Edward Cullinan , British architect*Joseph S...
's discovery of a kimberlite
Kimberlite
Kimberlite is a type of potassic volcanic rock best known for sometimes containing diamonds. It is named after the town of Kimberley in South Africa, where the discovery of an diamond in 1871 spawned a diamond rush, eventually creating the Big Hole....
diamond pipe in the town since named after him.
The original Rayton Junction was laid out along a spur of the main NZASM
Netherlands-South African Railway Company
The Netherlands-South African Railway Company or NZASM was established in August 1884 in the Transvaal, and funded by Dutch, German and Transvaal capitalists....
railway line, which was completed in 1895 to connect the Republic of Transvaal's capital, Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
to the port in Delagoabay, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Officials in the Montrose Diamond Mining Company did the town planning and named the hamlet after Lady Rachel Ray Williston, wife of the company's first manager, Colonel Balliston.
The town's first—and then only—brick building was the original magistrate’s office, which dates from this early time.
During the Second World War Italian prisoners of war were interned at Zonderwater just north of town, and massive military logistics and supply depots were established between Cullinan
Cullinan, Gauteng
Cullinan is a small town 30 km east of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Sir Thomas Cullinan discovered a rich diamond pipe here in 1902 and soon afterwards, on 25 June 1905, the famed Cullinan Diamond, the largest in the world at , was discovered by Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier...
and Rayton.
After the war, the Stella Diamond Mining Company bought the land around the town and declared a peri-urban municipality with relatively cheap properties. Rayton's proximity to Pretoria's expanding eastern suburbs allowed steady growth from the 1970s into the latter part of the 20th century. Today, Rayton is a thriving town that serves the need of prison wardens at the nearby Zonderwater Prison, staff at the Cullinan diamond mine as well as the surrounding farming community, with the Willem Prinsloo agricultural museum celebrating the area's rich agricultural history on the farm Kleinfontein
Kleinfontein
Kleinfontein is a new settlement near Pretoria, South Africa that was founded by Afrikaners who want to preserve their culture. It has only recently been developed and has a limited economy...
. Many settled town residents have found employment in surrounding suburbs of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
.
Town hall of fame
Jan Ellis, Springbok loose-forward who played 38 tests for South Africa until 1976 * Jan EllisJan Ellis
Jan Hendrik Ellis is a South African former rugby union rugby player, who played flanker. He played 38 times for the Springboks, which at that time was a record.-Biography:...
.
Bennie Labuschgane: 1992 Olympian, three-time African champion, Commonwealth Games medallist and named one of South Africa's six Wrestler's of the 20th Century, now Head Coach of University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
's wrestling club.
Kees Legemaat, resident dairy farmer and director of the northern region of the South African Milk Producers' Organisation * http://www.mbendi.com/orgs/1279/e883.htm.
Lucas C Viljoen, pedagoque, pioneer of South Africa's parallel medium school system and mentor of black principals in rural areas * http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Viljoen&action=submit.
Alwyn Viljoen, print and radio journalist specialising in transport * https://www.talkinransport.blogspot.com.