Cullinan is a small town in the Gauteng province of South Africa. It is located east of the city of Pretoria along the diamond route and is heavily reliant on tourism and the mine that dominates the skyline. The town is named after diamond magnate Sir Thomas Cullinan. History In 1898 Sir Thomas Cullinan was handed a three carat diamond found along a farm fence. He studied the area and came to the conclusion that the diamond was washed down from a nearby hill. Sir Cullinan made an attempt to buy the land from the owner, Joachim Prinsloo, but did not succeed. After Prinsloo's death, he was able to purchase the land for £52,000 from Prinsloo's daughter. The Cullinan kimberlite was discovered in 1902 and in 1903 open pit mining commenced. The mine was named the Premier mine. On 25 June 1905, the famed Cullinan Diamond, the largest in the world at , was discovered by Frederick George Stanley Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company. It was bought by the Transvaal government and presented to King Edward VII. The town of Cullinan owes its existence to the diamond mining in this area, much like Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Geography Cullinan is situated in the Highveld region of South Africa. The town has an elevation of 1476 m (4842.52 ft) and is located at −25.6709 [latitude in decimal degrees], 28.5236 [longitude in decimal degrees]. The closest city is Pretoria being away, while Johannesburg is away. Government Cullinan formed part of the Nokeng tsa Taemane Local Municipality until 18 May 2011. Due to mismanagement of funds, this municipality was disbanded and incorporated into the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Tourism Tours Various operators offer tours around Cullinan. Tourists can choose between tours around town, within the mining area and even underground mining tours. Various means of transportation is used to provide these tours, the most popular being on an open vehicle or on foot. Museums There are a few museums in the area in and around Cullinan. A few of the most popular ones are: The History room Cullinan. The McHardy house museum. The Zonderwater Italian POW museum The Sammy Marks Museum Adventure The mountainous terrain surrounding Cullinan offers multiple activities for more adventure-oriented people, like: Gorge gliding Horse riding Abseiling Bongo drum sessions Archery There is also an annual mountain bike race called the Cullinan