Fountain Baths revives the senses as a welcome retreat for travellers exploring this history rich part of Southern Africa.

Welcome To Fountain Baths Guest Cottages

Nestled at the foot of the Makhonjwa Mountain Range in the quaint mining town of Barberton. Built-in 1884 as the bathhouse for gold diggers in the area.

You can relax in our garden that extends to the very foot of the mountain or takes a dip in the oldest swimming pool in the Old Transvaal.

Vervet monkeys, bush babies, and Baboon are frequent visitors to the garden. Bird lovers have spotted Narina Trogon, Emerald Cuckoo and Knysna Turaco from their verandas.

We have classic accommodation comprising of self-catering or non-self-catering units, each with their own entrance into the garden or pool area. Each unit also has its own bathroom.

Home cooked meals and Breakfast packs are available 24 hour with prior arrangement or you can enjoy our favourite meal the South African Braai.

We are perfectly situated within walking distance from town.

Barberton: A History Buff's Delight

Barberton is a treasure trove of history and adventure for those who love to travel back in time.

The Barberton Museum and Dusty Tracks Private Mining Museum, located close to the Fountain Baths, are must-visit attractions.

Take part in off-road adventures, gold panning and mining tours, and trips to the old Mining ghost towns of Eureka city and Msauli Village.

The Heritage Walk in Barberton is a fascinating self-guided tour, but if you prefer, you can arrange for a guide through the museum.

To go further back in time, Barberton has earned World Heritage status for being situated within the oldest and best-preserved geological sites on the planet, dating back over 3.5 billion years to the Archaean era.

A trip up the 38km Geo-Trail on the R40 to the Swazi border can be arranged with a guide or one can simply use the self-drive option by stopping at the information points that are very informative.

About Us – The history in the making

In 1881 gold in the Barberton area was discovered by Tom McLachlan who found alluvial gold at Jamestown. However, due to the location (the hot Lowveld region was rife with malaria) no-one wanted to go there until Auguste Roberts (“French Bob”) discovered gold in Concession Creek on 20 June 1883. This discovery resulted in a gold rush to the area.

On 21 June 1884, Graham Barber wrote a letter to the State Secretary to inform him that he and his two cousins Fred and Harry discovered payable gold on state land where the Umvoti Creek entered the De Kaap valley. The State Secretary then asked the Magistrate in Lydenburg to investigate the matter and for David Wilson, the Gold Commissioner, to submit a report. Wilson investigated on 24 July 1884 and declared the township of Barberton.

The town was named after Graham Hoare Barber (1835-1888) who discovered a rich gold-bearing reef there in 1884. Barberton became a municipality in 1904. At first it was just a simple mining camp but grew when Edwin Bray, a prospector discovered gold in the hills above Barberton in 1885 and with 14 partners started the Sheba Reef Gold Mining Company.

Large amounts of money flowed into Barberton and the first Stock Exchange to operate in the then Transvaal opened its doors. More buildings were erected, billiard saloons and music halls established. The Criterion and Royal Standard hotels were opened. In 1896, Barberton was connected by rail to the Netherlands-South African Railway Company (NZASM)’s Oosterlijn (Pretoria to Lourenco Marques) through a specifically constructed side line running from Kaapmuiden to Barberton.

It was during this time Fountain Baths was born. Built in 1884 as a bathhouse for the gold diggers in the area, it boasts the oldest swimming pool in the Old Transvaal still today.

Barberton flourished for only a brief period and sadly soon the inhabitants began to move away to the newly discovered gold fields on the Reef. 

COMPLETE FOUNTAIN BATHS HISTORY 

Accommodation

Discover Fountain Baths Guest House: Your Ideal Getaway Spot

Situated in a prime location near various town facilities, Fountain Baths Guest House offers an exceptional experience.

Our accommodation includes five individually decorated cottages, each with one or two bedrooms hosting 2 to 4 people.

The rooms feature private or en-suite bathrooms and basic kitchen appliances for self-catering purposes.

Our guest house boasts a communal swimming pool, beautiful gardens that attract a range of visitors, and frequent sightings of bird species, Vervet monkeys, porcupines, and bush babies.

Additionally, we are within close proximity to shops, restaurants, supermarkets, and other facilities.

Explore the area with a variety of activities such as mine tours, gold panning, heritage walks, quad biking, 4x4 adventure drives into the mountains, hiking, and guided tours for birders.

Our rooms come equipped with essential amenities such as towels, bed sheets, soap, toilet paper, central heating, or a heater in the listing, an iron, and Wi-Fi.

Please note that the building itself is a part of the original bathhouse built in 1884, so the floor levels may differ in the bedroom and bathroom.