Allanridge (Nyakallong)
Location

Allanridge is situated next to the R30 between Bothaville and Odendaalsrus. It is approximately 14km from Odendalsrus, 25 km from Welkom and 50km from Bothaville.

History

In 1896, long before this mining town was named Allanridge, two British prospectors dug a shaft on the farm Aandenk, removed some promising-looking ore and set off for London to have it analysed. Unfortunately, their liner sank and the prospectors lost their lives. In 1930, another prospector, Archibals Megson and his friend, Allan Roberts, a geologist and prospector, deepened the shaft. It was only after the Second World War that the hole was once again deepened and the gold-bearing Basal Reef was reached – a mere 120 m deeper than Megson and Roberts’ hole! Today, a small monument marks the site of the original hole and the town proudly bears the name of Allan Roberts.The town of Allanridge was founded as a settlement in 1947, although it was only proclaimed as a town in 1956. Nyakallong location was established by the mine workers working at Loraine mine and started as a dwelling for mine workers only. The town’s layout was designed by the same town planner, William Backhouse, who planned Welkom