October 1886
Johannesburg founded
A mining camp on the Witwatersrand was laid out as Johannesburg during the early gold rush, rapidly becoming southern Africa's largest urban centre.
established
settlement-founding
A mining camp on the Witwatersrand was laid out as Johannesburg in October 1886 during the early gold rush, rapidly becoming southern Africa's largest urban centre.
Significance
Johannesburg concentrated mining capital, migrant labour and imperial politics that reshaped the South African Republic and the road to war.
Why it matters
Johannesburg concentrated mining capital, migrant labour and imperial politics that reshaped the South African Republic and the road to war.