The Greatbatch Guesthouse and Backpackers was named after Daniel Westwood Greatbatch, an architect who had without any doubt the greatest impact on pre-1914 Kimberley. Buildings designed by Greatbatch includes: The Synagogue, McGreggor Museum, Alexanderfontein Hotel, De Beers Head Office, The Royal Theatre, The Kimberley Hospital and Dunluce, amongst many others. Photos of some of his outstanding designs form part of the guesthouse décor.
Inside the guesthouse, three rooms are named after other architects of the era, namely Sydney Stent, Fergus Carstairs Rogers and William Mitcheson Timlin. These rooms are spacious and are equipped with clean towels, linen, coffee, tea, sugar, soap etc.
Architects – Stent, Rogers and Timlin:
Stent was born in 1845 and in 1880 became South Africa’s first Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. (Greatbatch articled to him when he was 17 years old).
Rogers is principally known as Architect for Kimberley City Hall. The practice founded by Rogers still exists in Kimberley under the name Joubert, Owens, Van Niekers, Watt and Partners. Rogers was wounded during the siege of Kimberley – it is believed that a piece of shrapnel recovered from his wounded leg was changed into a pendant as a gift for his wife.
Timlin was born in 1893 and studied art – he followed his parents to Kimberley and was apprenticed to Greatbatch.
The B&B and Backpackers also has three flats that are self-catering. Diggers Den are dormitories ideal for hunters, school groups and backpackers. The Den will remind the visitors of the early mining days in Kimberley.
The required meals can be arranged in a fully equipped kitchen. The visitors can also relax under the lapa while a barbeque is prepared. The boma ensures a warm atmosphere under the African skies.
Greatbatch also arranges any tour requirements on request.
