Gatooma

Prosperous Midlands Town

Gatooma is the centre of a rich mining and agricultural district.  It obtained municipal status in 1917. It lies at an altitude of 1162m and its population at the 1969 census totalled 20 940 of which 1 879 were Europeans and 18 740 were African.  Fabric weaving on a large commercial scale, based on the locally grown cotton, is an important industry.

Speck’s Hotel in 1919

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Mail train at Gatooma Station, 1920

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Gatooma from the air 1923

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 A view of the post office and war memorial in 1926.

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A view of Edward Street; compare this with the next photo taken 25 years later.

Note how the newly planted trees have grown since!

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In 1967 the town celebrated its golden jubilee as a municipality.

The picture, taken from the tower of the Town House, shows a flypast of R.R.A.F. aircraft

over a Guard of Honour provided by the Rhodesia Light Infantry. 

(Click on the picture for a larger image)

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