Cullinan, Gauteng

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Victorian cottages line Cullinan's Oak Avenue.

© Cullinan Meander

Cullinan village, once a farm called Elandsfontein, was acquired by prospector Thomas Cullinan when he established the farm's diamond-bearing potential. It became the Premier (Transvaal) Diamond Mining Company Ltd, now the Cullinan Diamond Mine.

Cullinan village is situated in Dinokeng, the north-east corner of Gauteng province. Its close proximity to Pretoria and Johannesburg, its Victorian charm, and its reputation for yielding some of the largest diamonds ever discovered, make it a fascinating destination.

Quirky and quaint, the town of Cullinan's focal point is Oak Avenue, which is lined with jacaranda and oak trees, cottages with intricate wrought-iron work and picket fences, bric-a-brac shops, restaurants, and the must-visit Jan Harmsgat se Agterplaas (literally, 'Jan Harmsgat's back garden'), a garden theatre-cum-gallery that rarely fails to delight visitors with its junkyard glamour.

Diamond mine tours are de rigueur when visiting Cullinan, choose a surface, motorised, or underground tour of the working mine.

Cullinan's open-cast mine is among the biggest in the world, 3 times the size of the more famous Kimberley Big Hole. When you've finished ogling this enormous crater, visit the Diamond Hub next door, where you'll be able to see replicas of the mine's most famous gems and diamond-cutting demonstrations.

Check out the historical and cultural attractions in Cullinan including murals painted by Italian prisoners of war during World War II, St George's Anglican Church designed by Sir Herbert Baker, the Sammy Marks Museum and Cullinan Station.

Dig below Cullinan's surface and you'll find fascinating stories. Take a local tour with a specialised guide or visit game ranches, go for outdoor sports, adventure activities and steam train trips. 

Cullinan village sparkles for more than its famous diamonds.