Below is the third installment of a fantastic series on Cullinan based on John Lincoln's book 'Stories from a Diamond Mine'. It highlights the work of William McHardy, the General Manager of Premier Mine, and reveals details of family life in the village. Click here to view the series index.
The McHardy Family
In April 1903 the Premier Mine acquired the services of a first-class manager, namely William McHardy. He was originally from the Kimberley Central Diamond Mining Company Limited and was appointed General Manager of Premier Mine.
He introduced the “direct double treatment system”, where the ground was crushed instead of being floored to allow the ground to deteriorate naturally, and through it achieved great success.
It was also due to McHardy that when the railway line between Pretoria and Premier Mine was completed in 1906, the village was named after T M Cullinan.
That McHardy was a man of strict integrity and high reputation is without question. In a book, BI Barnato, written by Harry Raymond shortly after Barnato’s death is the following passage:
Mr McHardy said: “Although I am an old inhabitant of these fields I have never spoken at a public meeting before and so you must make allowances for me. I should not speak now, but a great number of you must have heard the whisperings at street corners, and have seen the winks and nods which in this place are all that are necessary to damage a man’s reputation. I have a thorough knowledge of the...
