Cullinan has learnt to pivot to ensure its revival and survival

The town was built on diamond mining but, with that in decline, Cullinan has had to reimagine itself. Now it's a place where creatives gather.

- By Naledi Mashishi

Welcoming sign at Railways Cafe in Cullinan.

(Photo: Naledi Mashishi)

Nestled in the north of Gauteng, about a 40-minute drive from Pretoria, lies the historic town of Cullinan, a destination now pulsating with artistic expression.

Founded in 1902 as a mining town, Cullinan is famously the site where the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, the largest rough gem ever found, was unearthed.

Today, it’s a semirural community home to farmers, mining families, artists and those seeking an escape from fast-paced city life.

Driving into the town, one is immediately struck by the clean, well-maintained roads and painted signs proudly bearing a diamond symbol, a tribute to its rich history.

The town, affectionately called the Diamond Village by residents, boasts a consistent electricity supply and clean, drinkable tap water.

Its main street, characterised by preserved Dutch colonial-style architecture, leads directly towards its central tourism hub: the Cullinan Diamond Mine, which offers above-ground tours, and McHardy House, a museum that offers a glimpse into a mining family's life in the 19th century.

The improved municipal standards are partially credited to the Tshwane Municipality, which received an audit upgrade from an adverse to a qualified opinion in the past two years.