Krugersdorp stories

A town remembered in motion.

Short films, old photographs and stories from Krugersdorp and the West Rand.

A brief history

From Paardekraal to a gold-mining town.

Krugersdorp’s modern story is closely tied to Paardekraal and the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand. A major gathering took place at Paardekraal in December 1880. After gold was found in the area, part of the farm was bought for a town in 1887, which was named Krugersdorp after Paul Kruger. It developed rapidly as a mining and service centre on the West Rand.

Krugersdorp CBD · circa 1955–1960s

Commissioner Street and the Town Hall

This colourised street view looks along Krugersdorp’s historic centre towards the Town Hall clock tower. Commissioner Street was the town’s main thoroughfare, while the old central square was bounded by Commissioner, Market, President and Kruger Streets. The Town Hall itself grew from a public decision taken in 1906 and later became a protected heritage landmark.

Paardekraal · 1880–1891

A gathering that shaped Krugersdorp’s memory

The original photograph records the gathering around Paardekraal, where thousands of burghers assembled in December 1880 and each placed a stone as a symbol of their resolve to restore the South African Republic. The Paardekraal Monument was constructed in 1890 and unveiled by President Paul Kruger on 16 December 1891.

Market & Human Streets · 1890–1974

The Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel was a prominent historic landmark situated at the corner of Market and Human Streets in Krugersdorp. Constructed in 1890 and originally known as Price’s Hotel, the building was regarded as one of the finest local examples of late Victorian architecture, distinguished by its elaborate wrought-iron detailing. It was later renamed the Royal Hotel and was owned for many years by Frederick William Bolt, a former Member of Parliament for Bloemfontein who relocated to Krugersdorp with his wife and seven children. Bolt was also involved in the political developments that contributed to the establishment of the Union of South Africa. During its heyday, the hotel was known for its window boxes filled with pink geraniums and was a popular gathering place, frequently visited by prominent mining magnate and politician Sir Abe Bailey. In 1974, the Allied Building Society purchased the property for R250,000 and subsequently demolished the historic hotel to construct a new office building.

Fine print: the historical photographs on this page have been digitally animated with AI to create the short films.

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