The gold-rush that hit Klerksdorp in 1885 also spread to neighbouring Orkney, where a number of small mining companies sprang up in the last years of the century. Prospectors arrived from all over the country, searching for the exclusive metal as well as for diamonds, which were found on the banks of the Vaal river. The town continued to grow and prosper for the next few decades when, due to the discovery of gold and diamonds in other parts of the Transvaal, as well as an industry-wide recession, fortunes began to dwindle.

Thanks to the discovery of new gold ore deposits in 1934, Orkney once again began to flourish and today Vaal River Operations, halfway between Klerksdorp and Orkney, plays a major role in the local economy. The quaint town still retains its old world charm, while offering thoroughly modern living to residents and visitors alike.