McHardy House Museum

McHardy House is the first residence to have been built in the historic mining town of Cullinan, some 30km east of Pretoria. The house was constructed in 1903 for General William McHardy, the general manager of the Cullinan Mine, who lived here with his wife and seven children. General McHardy died in 1913, it is said from a broken heart shortly after his teenage son was killed in a tragic accident.

Two of his daughters, May and Evalina, continued to live in the house until they both died in 1984 aged 94 and 98 respectively. The house and all its contents were then subsequently bought by the Cullinan Mine (now known as the Premier Mine) and converted into a museum, which today is run by the Cullinan Heritage Society.

Today the house still looks much as it did when the McHardy family first moved in and it is a fine example of the popular Edwardian style of architecture and decor of the time, surrounded by well-tended gardens. On a guided tour of the house you’ll be transported back in time to Gauteng’s early mining days while you view old photos of the McHardy family and hear the stories of Cullinan’s mining pioneers.