John Duncan: a life shaped by the De Kaap Valley
From a farm boy known as “Dubula” to a merchant navy engineer sailing the world’s oceans, John Andrew Duncan’s life was shaped by adventure, resilience and deep roots in the De Kaap Valley.
Culture & Identity
Exploring the people, creativity, and traditions that shape Barberton’s unique character.
The Duncan's of Barberton: A family rooted in gold rush history
The Duncan family has been part of Barberton since the gold‑rush days of the 1880s. From early bakeries and stores to generations of local business involvement, their story, to this day, forms an important part of the town’s heritage.
Diggers Retreat Hotel keeps gold rush spirit alive
The Diggers Retreat Hotel on the R38 offers more than just a place to stay, it’s a living link to Barberton’s gold rush past.
Barberton Cemetery: memory, mourning and a call to protect our heritage
Honouring the fallen with the Remembrance Parade
Sheba Mine, Barberton’s golden jewel
Sheba Mine, known as the town’s Golden Jewel, continues to shape our community and economy more than 130 years after the first gold was found.
Belhaven House keeps Edwardian elegance alive
Step back into Barberton’s Edwardian era at Belhaven House, a lovingly restored 1904 prefabricated home with pressed‑steel ceilings and period décor that tells the story of the town’s gold‑rush prosperity and timeless charm.