Barberton Area Profile

Barberton at a glance

Known as the "Gem of the Lowveld", Barberton is snugly nestled between the lush folds of the world-famous Makhonjwa mountain range in Mpumalanga. It prevails for its rich gold mining history as well as the area's incredible unique geology, which lures in geologists from across the globe. Residents are graced by the spectacular fauna and flora that the area offers, such as butterflies, insects, and birds.

Property in Barberton offers homeowners the competitive edge as the average residential properties sell from R850 000. The area is fond of attracting newcomers. There is a further demand for student and retirement accommodation, making Barberton a great spot for future developments.

A brief history of the area
Barberton was established in 1884 when Graham, Fred, and Henry Barber discovered gold here. The reef was christened with a bottle of gin, as champagne was not available, on the 24th July 1884 by the Gold Commissioner, David Wilson. 

Fortune seekers flocked to the town in numbers until gold was discovered on the Witwatersrand and only the larger mines continued operating. 

By 1898 Otto Elkan had donated a collection of quartz and other mineral specimens and natural history curios which were displayed in the Carnegie library. 

Climate
Barberton has a warm and temperate climate. In winter there is much lesser rainfall than in summer. The rainfall here is around 861-mm per year. June is the driest month with 11-mm of rain, while most precipitation falls in December, with an average of 141-mm. The temperature here averages 20.0 °C. January is the warmest month of the year with average temperatures of 27 °C. In June, the average temperature is 15.2 °C.

Distance from key points (Airport/CBD)
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is 72-km away from the center of Barberton. This journey will take about an hour via the R40 and R538 with an average driving speed of 80km/h.

Schools in the area
There are many schooling options available in Barberton. These include; Barberton High School, Emjindini High School, Chief Funwako High School, Kwamhola Secondary School, Barberton Secondary school, Gateway Christian School, Barberton Primary School, Ekucathuzeni Primary School, Mhola Primary School, Sikhutsele Primary School, Amon Nkosi Primary School, Glenthorpe Primary School, Ngwane Primary School, SA Makam Primary School, Khanyisile Primary School, Fairview Primary School, Ekhiyeni Primary School, and Mountain View Primary School.

Medical facilities
Mediclinic Barberton, M'africa Clinic, Barberton Hospital, Ohs Care, Barberton Municipal Clinic, and Renee clinic are some of the medical facilities available in the area.

Shopping MallsJock of the Bushveld Shopping Centre, Stimela Centre and  Eureka City Centre are the popular shopping facilities which residents enjoy visiting for their goods and service.

Restaurants
Wimpy, Debonairs Pizza, Steers, The Very Old Jock, Victorian Tea Garden, Jocks Boskombuis, Die Plaaskombuis, The Genesis Restaurant, Inni Donga, The Royal Feather,  Phoenix Hotel and Restaurant, Keg and Barrel Sport Bar, are some of the great eateries in Barberton.

Special Attractions
The Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail is a self-drive route comprising of a 38km exploration of ancient rock formations that date from the Archaean period, more than three billion years ago. Visitors can learn about the discovery of the mountains behind Barberton which is referred to as 'the history of our planet cast in stone'. In July 2018, Barberton was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to this prestigious finding. The Songimvelo Nature Reserve is also situated in the Barberton Mountain lands and is the Mpumalanga Parks Board's largest reserve as it extends over 500 square kilometers.

Aside from the scenic hikes, locals also make use of the mountainous routes for cycling, motorbiking and quad biking. There is an annual MTB cycle race hosted in January which attracts many cycling enthusiasts from the country. 

The area is a favorite for paragliders too. Barberton is considered as the launch site as every year the sky comes alive during the winter months when paragliders take to the skies, launching from Lone Tree Hill.

Make Barberton your home today!
Rich in history and a great place to call home, Barberton is a gracious city to build a life in. If you are interested in being a resident of this lovely place or simply wish to invest,  contact one of our friendly agents at RealNet Wild Frontier today.