Elliott Maris was founded during 1873 by Robert Dundas Graham, only two years after Kimberley was founded. Mr. Graham was a mining partner with Cecil Rhodes and also held Mr. Rhodes’ Will. Elliott Maris’s first offices were situated at Shippard Street, where the new modern Diamond Cutting Works is now situated. Mr. Graham was one of 74 original signatories who each pledged to take one debenture share worth 100 pounds when the Kimberley Club was founded in 1881. During 1892 the firm received a post pox, being P.O. Box 179, which the firm still uses to this day. The firm became modernised during 1901 by installing a telephone, the number allocated being 45. Mr. Russell Elliott purchased the firm during 1922. Mr. Elliott convened a meeting and proposed the harnessing of the water of the Orange and the Vaal Rivers, which heralded the birth of the Orange River Scheme and the Vaal dam. Mr. Elliott was also the author of two legal works, being “The South African Notary” and "Elliott's Legal Forms". Mr. Graham laid the foundation for a respected and thriving law practice that has built an impeccable reputation over the last 144 years in our courts, among our colleagues and the broad community we serve.
