Rayton (original) (raw)

Rayton, Northern Gauteng

Not far from the historical village of Cullinan is the little town of Rayton, another settlement to have evolved from the discovery of diamonds in the area.

With the opening of the Premier Mine in the vicinity, many diamond diggers made their way to this part of the world to prospect for diamonds. It wasn�t long before the company built a spur from the then railway line between Pretoria and Delagoa Bay, to a station called Rayton.

The Premier Diamond Mine, sometimes known as the New Premier, so as not to confuse it with the old Premier of the De Beers group, is the greatest known diamond mine in the world - as large as the four De Beers Consolidated Mines combined. The mine is shaped liked a pear and lies on a level plateau about two hundred feet in elevation, surrounded by hills and kopjes. The crystals mined here are of the finest quality and colour, and the percentage of large crystals of gem material is greater than from any other mine in the country.

Rayton is named after the first manager of the Montrose Diamond Mining Company, Colonel Balliston�s wife - Lady Rachel Ray Williston. Today the town exhibits some fine examples of classic architecture that have survived the ages, and the Post Office is the original magistrate�s office. Although Rayton became little more than a ghost town following the Second World War, today it is a thriving little �dorp� in the true sense of the word.

Travellers' Reviews

1 Review from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.

Verified reviewvery good

Hi, Am looking for a resident who lived there many years ago. Know he was a teacher and artist. His name is Ernest Rood. Can anyone assist me with a contact number, as he was a cousin ( I think) of my late dad.

Eddy Lloyd (Sedgefield)

In the vicinity

Hotels & other accommodation options

Self Catering

Lunford Garden Cottage

The Lunford Garden Cottage is a neat, fully furnished 2-bedroom holiday apartment located on the working Lunford Farm in Rayton, Pretoria. The ki...

Guest House / Self Catering

At The Rocks Country Estate

At The Rocks Country Estate is situated on top of a koppie in the Eastern Magaliesberg mountain range providing the most stunning view of the dis...

Bed & Breakfast

Diamantvallei Landgoed

Diamantvallei Landgoed offers accommodation in Rayton, near the Cullinan district of Gauteng. This guest house offers accommodation for a total o...

Things to do in the area

4x4 Trails

McCarthy Rhino Park 4x4 Trail

Just north-east of Johannesburg and 35 kilometres from Pretoria in the Gauteng Province of South Africa is the McCarthy Rhino Park 4x4 Trail. Thi...

Noteworthy attractions

Golf Courses

Blue Valley Golf Estate

Named for the blue skies and open country of its surroundings, the Gary Player designed Blue Valley is a perfect blend of hospitality, sport and ...

Golf Courses

Centurion Country Club

Centurion Golf Course is an excellent Golfing Estate with a very challenging golf course designed by Peter Matkovich. Two different nines, where ...

Golf Courses

Zwartkop Country Club

The Zwartkop Country Club is situated on what was originally the farm Zwartkop named after the bird found nesting on the farm. It has long been a...

Game Reserves

Leeuwkloof Valley Conservancy

The Leeuwkloof Valley Conservancy, a 400 hectare game reserve, is situated 1 hour from Johannesburg and 30 minutes from Pretoria. In the heart of...

Nature Reserves

Rietvlei Nature Reserve

The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is one of the world's largest urban nature reserves, 3 800 hectares in extent, situated south of the city but still w...

Lakes / Dams

Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve

The Roodeplaat dam was constructed in 1956 and was initially called the 'Pienaars Rivier Dam'. The Dam supplied the surrounding landowners with i...

Landmarks

Cullinan Diamond Mine

Just twenty minutes� drive from Pretoria brings one to the quaint little town of Cullinan that time appears to have little affected. The Cullinan...

Museums

Tswaing Meteorite Crater Museum

One of only four meteorite crater museums in the world (the others are in the US, Germany and France) the Tswaing Crater and its museum lie rough...

Nature Reserves

Rust De Winter Nature Reserve

The pretty Rust de Winter Nature Reserve lies north east of Hammanskraal and close enough to the N1 and Pretoria to make a weekend of it. Places ...

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Boekenhoutskloof, Bronkhorstspruit, Buffelsdrift, Centurion, Cullinan, De Wagensdrift, Dinokeng, Eldoraigne, Hammanskraal, Hennops River, Irene, Leeuwkloof Valley, Pretoria, Rayton, Roodeplaat, Wierda Park
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Gauteng

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