Once the highest building in Johannesburg
Johannesburg was never a one horse town. The miners’ tents and tin shacks soon gave way to brick buildings. The first one was the gaol and it fell down. But within three years there were three storey buildings and the Gezondheitskomittee had appointed a building inspector.
The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation has grown from the Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust which was founded at a time when the bulldozers were knocking down houses by the dozen in Parktown for the hospital, for the park, for the College of Education and eventually for the office blocks. Legislation changed and most heritage houses are protected now in Parktown and Westcliff. We have been widening our scope over the last 28 years and finally taken the plunge and changed our name to correctly reflect the work we do.
The City of Johannesburg has grown immensely and the task is huge, but there is a need for a proactive organisation ready to do battle and defend our City’s heritage. There is also a need to recognise that adaptive re-use is essential. We can’t hang on to every old building in this dynamic metropolis. Sometimes it will be Adapt or Die, but there are some places which are such treasures that it will be Beware! Treat it with the utmost care.
SECOND QUARTER'S PROGRAMME
2nd Quarter Programme Apr to Jun 2013 - click to download word document else view it on-line under the quarterly programmes section. Click to view the Newsletter.
MINUTES OF THE 26th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD ON SATURDAY, 14th JULY, 2012 AT 2.00 PM AT
EMOYENI, 25 QUEEN’S ROAD (OFF JUBILEE ROAD), PARKTOWN
Fire at Holy Family College formerly Parktown Convent
A fire broke out last night just before 9pm starting in the roof of the old Art Deco brick hall. The roof timbers and blue slate had collapsed by the time I got there and we watched it rage on the Oxford Road end where the stage was. It burned more slowly at the other end where the timber gallery still hung in the air. Gradually the flames consumed the beams and we thought the gable wall would fall, but it was still standing when we left. So was the statue of the Virgin in the niche.
By 10.45 the fire seemd out and we left. It had gutted the hall but not spread to the old building. The Museum and Chapel are intact and it was nowhere near the Research Centre.
Flo
Hugh Solomon Building on Klein Street, Hillbrow Health Precinct. Val Hammerton, retired Theatre sister who trained here unvield the plaque on 10th May just ahead of International Nurses Day on 12th May.
HUGH SOLOMON BUILDING
Designed by Gilbert St John Cottrill in 1904, this was the first Nurses’ Home for the General Hospital. In 1926 a new wing was added, and in 1936 a new hall and dining-hall were completed by Gordon Leith. It was named after the Chairman of the Hospital Board from 1930-1955. Dress regulations, training and deportment for the nurses were very strict. In 2006 it was refurbished as the headquarters of the Hillbrow Health Precinct.
LAUNCHING THE JOHANNESBURG HERITAGE FOUNDATION ON JOHANNESBURG'S BIRTHDAY
On 4th October 2012 which is the City’s 126th birthday we’ll be launching the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation with a bus trip. We start at the Sunnyside Park Hotel (1896), one of the most historic places in the City and move to Pritchard Street, the heart of the retail centre to unveil a plaque at the Markham’s Building. We pay our respect to Captain von Brandis, the first Landdrost, travel down to Gandhi Square to see the statue of Gandhi who practised law here, look at the new billboard explaining Herman Charles Bosman’s association with the High Court Building and then drive down to St Alban’s Church which has been restored under the auspices of the Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust thanks to the generosity of two sponsors.
Then back over the Mandela Bridge past the Fever Hospital, Berea Fire Station and Randjieslaagte Beacon recently enclosed and protected by the University of the Witwatersrand and return to the Sunnyside Park Hotel.
Johannesburg Coat of Arms
The small jampot in our letterhead is not without meaning or to bring sweetness into your life.
It is the stamp which appears on the earliest Johannesburg Coat of Arms - the actual foot of the crusher which pounds the rock . There were different size stamps 6 pounders or 10 pounders.... the noise was simply unholy but the crushed rock went through the process and became golden sand on the mine dumps.
These tiny stamps are used on the escutcheon plates of the old City Hall and a stylized version is used to number the routes through the city.
So this is a tiny bit of Johannesburg we chose to decorate our logo.
LOOKING AHEAD: SPECIAL PROJECTS
- SPEED-RATING OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE CITY CENTRE.
Excellent surveys of the City Centre were commissioned by the City Of Johannesburg and three areas have been completed. Now JHF is rating the buildings to clarify that heritage value has been attributed to them. At present most are protected by Section 34 of the National Heritage Resources Act which applies to all buildings and structures over 60 years old. We can’t change the law but we can make it easier for owners, developers and the officials to decide which ones are important.
The Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust has already rated Parktown and Westcliff , Jeppestown, La Rochelle and Yeoville. So this work is going forward as the first step in conserving this heritage.
- Erecting Heritage Plaques which provide the public with information on the buildings. A number of Art Deco buildings have already had plaques erected and this work will continue. JHF will need to raise funds as not all owners are willing and able to pay for the plaques.
The plaques are another step in protecting Joburg’s heritage.
3. Commemorative paving blocks: We have approached the Provincial Legislature for permission to lay commemorative paving blocks in the paving around the Legislature’s precinct. This is a way of reminding people of important events in Johannesburg’s past.
- On-going research into the old suburbs of Johannesburg to identify the heritage buildings and places which need to retained and especially to be considered in the development planning of the suburbs. Heritage sites make an important contribution to the sense of stability and of growth as well as increasing pride in the community.
“A city without a past is like a man without a memory” warned Professor E.W. Mallows
We need our old buildings to remind us of our roots and to measure our progress.
Contact us on: 011-482-3349 Weekdays (Mornings only)
e-mail : mail@joburgheritage.co.za
WE HAVE MADE A START
We’ll be updating people on the issues as we get the news on heritage and what is happening in the City. We have already started Speed Rating the buildings in the City Centre. Surveys have been done but we’ll be asserting what rating we set on them and publish this on the website. We’ll be proceeding with plaques for places of special interest. But most importantly we will try to assist with heritage problems.
Done it!! Joburg listings for the 1st phase for this week.
HERITAGE TODAY! - A programme for all those who care about out old buildings. They can now listen to the podcasts by clicking on the icon.
Tuesday mornings at 10h45 Stay tuned.
A walkbout round First Chinatown was followed by an excellent lunch at the Swallows Inn which so many of us remember as the Little swallow, one of the oldest restaurants in the City.
Unveiling the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation plaque at the Transvaal Chinese United Club 6 Commissioner on Saturday 23rd February 2013.
Club chairman Mr K. H. Lai recounts the history of the Club which dates back to 1909 and which held the pioneering Chinese community of the Johannesburg together throughout the years of second class citizenship, humiliating and costly registration and yet managed to raise funds for charity and community facilities.
"We have made a start ...!"
Introduction to Listings and Assessments
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
CROWN MINES VILLAGE IN FLAMES:
Shacks built alongside the derelict top row of houses in Langlaagte Deep Village burned down leaving 80 people homeless and bringing further devastation to what was a National Monument which we used to visit on tours of the mining history of Johannesburg.
Rand Mines Properties which changed its name to I-Prop refused to maintain this row of houses, evicting the tenants and allowing them to be vandalized of all metals. PHRAG in its usual wimpish way failed to impose a Compulsory Repair Order, but did at least refuse a demolition permit.
It is not really surprising how often in Johannesburg heritage buildings including fully declared heritage sites which were national monuments are partially destroyed by fire. Rissik Street Post Office, Marshall Street Police Barracks, the Drill Hall, Kimberley House, the Mine Manager’s house at Crown Reef North…..
So now our last mining village is under terrible threat. The new owner has cit off the proper access, demolished the crown which stood outside the Scout Hall, made for the visit of King George V1 in 1947 and transferred to the village when the original site was developed.
Heritage Day 2012
We celebrated Heritage Day in Midrand.
Two bus loads visited the Russian Orthodox Church of St Sergius of Radonezk. Completed in 2003 it seems a transplant from the homeland. For those who are unlikely to get a chance to visit Russia it was a joy and a blessing to see the five golden domes against a brilliant blue sky. Gold is a very practical covering since it can be rolled so thin and it never tarnishes. Lovely material and Father Daniel estimated less than 1 kilo of gold was used to cover all five domes. The bell tower too has its own golden dome. The Church is relatively small and there are no pews. The congregation stands and stays awake! There is an iconostasis - the screen which separates the altar from the body of the church. Only the clergy may enter the doors of the iconostasis. But the doors were opened so we could see inside. There is also a choir loft and the Church has a renowned choir. The ceiling is covered in traditional murals. The characters represented by the domes are depicted on the ceiling blow each one: Jesus for the centre dome, and the apostles for the four smaller domes.
Then we drove towards the minarets and entered the great Mosque which has been modeled on the one designed by the great Ottoman architect, Sinan. He proclaimed the Selimiye Mosque built in 1575in Edirne his masterpiece, achieved at the age of eighty. The Nizamy Kullyes mosque in Midrand has been scaled down to 78 % of the one in Turkey. First we entered the great Courtyard with its central fountain and arcaded sides which house the art gallery, the offices and the ablution areas. Leaving our shoes behind we stepped onto the carpet and entered the prayer hall. It is not simply size which impresses all who enter, but the space, its volume and the lightness. Myriads of tiles adorn the columns and walls, stained glass windows light three levels below the dome, the ceilings are adorned with murals and the floor is carpeted throughout ensuing peace and quiet.
The project engineer and the Imam explained about the construction and the use of the various elements and the Deputy Imam recited from the Koran in Arabic – the story of Joseph (The amazing coloured dream-coat). It was quite magical listening and absorbing the scale and beauty of the place. Afterwards we were given water and Turkish delight. Wee received such a warm welcome and the Imam assured us we would be welcome at any time to visit and bring other visitors.
So we celebrated Heritage Day welcoming and being welcomed to appreciate two new buildings which bring centuries old traditional architecture to enrich the cultural experience of Johannesburg.
Many thanks to David Forrest who organised this tour and who has been invited to celebrate the opening of the Mosque by President Jacob Zuma on 4th October.
Click here to view the pictures
FRIENDS, CORPORATE MEMBERS AND SPONSORS
The Northwards Trust
Set up to retain the historic architectural heritage of Johannesburg FoundationTrust. The Trust tries to make this heritage accessible through tours of the buildings and the area, publications and special programmes for school children.
It is a fund-raising organisation and donations are most welcome.
Contact Details
Last Edit : 15/02/2013
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Transman
Westcliff Residents Association 
Parktown Association
