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Click to view large map Coordinates: | Also called Head Office of the De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited Also called De Beers Mine Recreation Rooms De Beers Consolidated Mines has had two Head Offices in Kimberley – the first on Warren Street known today as the De Beers Mining Company Boardroom, and the other on Stockdale Street. The original De Beers Mining Company offices on Warren Street were opposite the Boardroom, this building being erected during the period 1886/1887. The then secretary of De Beers, H.I. Feltham, called for building tenders to be in by August 1886, and building started shortly thereafter. It was designed by the architects, Stent and Hallach, and built by the local firm Church and MacLauchlin, opening for business in 1887. It remained the Head Office of the De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited until November 1889. In 1895 it became the De Beers Mine Recreation Rooms, the word "Reading" being added later. The Billiard rooms adjacent to the Boardroom were opened 28 May 1895. In 1964 the Reading Rooms were closed as it was planned to make a museum to the memory of Cecil Rhodes. Despite the planning, this idea did not materialize. (Yuill 1984:119)References:
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