The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation (JHF) recently marked 20 years of its efforts to preserve the city's heritage, with a bus tour that showcased some of its successes. The tour, called "JHF in Action", was hosted by founder Flo Bird and new chairperson David Fleminger, who took a group of members on a journey through Parktown and surrounding areas. The JHF was established in 1985 as the Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust, with the goal of protecting the area's historic buildings and landmarks.
The tour began at the Sunnyside Park Hotel, now a Holiday Inn, which was originally built in 1895 as the home of American mining engineer Hennen Jennings. The hotel, which served as the official residence of Sir Alfred (Lord) Milner during the Anglo-Boer War, is a national monument and provincial heritage site. A painting of a proposed property development that would have demolished parts of the Sunnyside was shown to the group, highlighting the importance of the JHF's work in preserving the area's heritage.
The proposed development, which included a towering square office block, would have been a blot on the Parktown Ridge landscape. This project, along with the proposed M6 motorway, sparked Bird's campaign to rescue the buildings of Parktown West from rampant development. Bird has faced numerous challenges, including taking on Imperial Motors when it tore down the Rand Steam Laundries in 2008. Despite the setback, the JHF won and the buildings were rebuilt.
The bus tour took the group through various streets, including Carse O'Gowrie Road and St Andrew's Road, past old mansions such as Hazeldene Hall and The View. The View, which has been the permanent headquarters of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment since 1976, may relocate, taking its iconic statue with it. The group also passed by the National Children's Theatre, which is housed in two buildings over 100 years old.
Fleminger emphasized that the JHF has never been anti-development, but rather wants to ensure that the city's heritage resources are used as valuable assets. He suggested that tourists could be encouraged to visit grand old mansions in Houghton and Parktown, highlighting the potential for heritage tourism in the area. Johannesburg, which turns 140 on October 4, has a rich history that could be leveraged to attract visitors.
However, Johannesburg's heritage is facing numerous challenges, including neglect and mismanagement. The city's degradation has led to a decline in property investment, exacerbating the problem. Fleminger noted that Cape Town has been successful in attracting investors, and Johannesburg needs to follow suit. One of the major issues facing the city is squalor and littering, which is evident in areas such as Pieter Roos Park.
The JHF is working to address these issues, with talks with local government and efforts to preserve not just buildings, but also parks and open spaces. The organization has also found an ally in Webber Wentzel, which has offered pro bono services to help with its efforts. With Fleminger and Bird at the helm, the JHF is poised to continue its work in preserving Johannesburg's heritage, including the ongoing fight to rescue the Johannesburg Art Gallery and the planned revival of the area around Chancellor House.
Key points
- Johannesburg Heritage Foundation celebrates 20 years of preserving city's heritage
- JHF works to preserve not just buildings, but also parks and open spaces
- Organization finds ally in Webber Wentzel to help with pro bono services
