Ontstaan en groei van Postmasburg.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Postmasburg het sedert sy stigting as dienssentrum vir die landelike bevolking in 1892, teen ʼn slakkegang ontwikkel totdat minerale in die omgewing van die dorp ontdek is. Eers die diamantmyne, maar veral die ryk mangaanertsneerslae in die jare twintig en die daaropvolgende bou van ʼn spoorlyn, het die dorp op die landkaart geplaas en oornag bekend laat word. Die mynbou het die natuurlike ontwikkelingsgang versnel en gou ʼn nuwe gedaante aan die dorp gegee. Postmasburg het egter deur die jare sy funksie as dienssentrum behou. Die welvaart wat deur die mynbou teweeggebring is, het van die dorp een van die min vooruitstrewende plattelandse dorpe die laaste aantal jare gemaak, soos duidelik blyk uit die groeiende bevolking, florerende sakesentrum en verbeterde infrastruktuur.

• Summary: From the time of its inception as a service centre for the rural population in 1892, Postmasburg developed at a snail’s pace until minerals were discovered in the vicinity. First came the diamondmines, but it was especially the rich deposits of manganese (discovered in 1922) and the subsequent building of a railway line, that put the town on the map, and the name Postmasburg became famous almost overnight. Mining accelerated its natural process of development and changed the village into a boom town. It however, retained its function as a service centre. The prosperity, brought about the mining, has in the last few years rendered it one of the few progressive towns in the rural areas. This is evident in the way its population and business have increased, and in its greatly improved infra-structure.