Joburg's old buildings - Part 5

In the final part of our series on Jozi's oldest buildings, we visit Parktown's The View, the Windybrow theatre and a real coppersmith's workshop.

The View (1896)
The View in Parktown was built in 1896 for Sir Thomas Cullinan, famous for producing the world's largest diamond at his Premier Mine, in 1905.

Dominated by two A-shaped gables, red brick, and white carved wooden railings on its double-storey balconies, it's built in the Neo-Queen Anne style. The west wing - a copy of the original house - was added in response to the growth of the family. It retains its large garden, with its original circular driveway.

The house stands grandly on Ridge Road, but no longer has a view to Pretoria, like it originally had. It's still in good condition, with its large wooden-panelled study and beautiful fireplaces. It is now the headquarters of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment.

Lady Cullinan lived in the house until 1963 when she died at the age of 97. The View became a national monument in 1990.

The Windybrow (1896)
Whereas other Randlords moved from Doornfontein to Parktown as part of their upward social climb, Theodore Reunert remained in his sprawling Windybrow mansion in lower Hillbrow. Built in 1896, its striking green and white timbered façade, gracious veranda and conical roof gives it a magical air, particularly amidst the untidy skyscrapers of Hillbrow.

The house, which used to nestle regally on the hill and have a splendid view of the town, still retains most of its former elegance. At present it houses the Windybrow Centre for the Arts, consisting of three theatres, and aims to provide a "cultural space" for upcoming actors, theatre technicians and poets. It is sponsored by the national Department of Arts and Culture.

Every room has a beautiful fireplace (although some have new tilework), pressed steel ceilings and wooden floors. The entrance hall still has its beautiful wood-panelled ambience, and the drawing room with its central domed ceiling is now a small pub. Other rooms have been converted into a coffee shop, a bar, and rehearsal rooms.

A national monument since 1975, the building has undergone several renovations (1983 and 1998), but clearly needs more upkeep to regain its former splendour.

De Klerk's coppersmith house and workshop (1890s)
Larry de Klerk, a fourth-generation coppersmith and one of South Africa's last coppersmiths, operates out of the garage attached to the house in Currey Street, Doornfontein.

It is believed that the house was built between 1887 and 1897. It's a small house, with a verandah and pillared garden wall painted forest green, with green fascias against whitewashed walls, and an iron roof.

It's a national monument but is badly in need of renovation, being a storeroom for the coppersmith operation, piled with old copper geysers and sheets of copper.

Other buildings
There are many other buildings in Johannesburg that were built before 1900 and still stand to remind Johannesburgers of their heritage.

They are spread across the early suburbs of the town, and many still stand in the city centre.

Markham's Building, in Eloff Street, was built in 1897 and remodelled in 1983. The Three Castles Building in Marshall Street, was built in 1898. St Mary the Less, built in 1889 in Park Street, Jeppestown, still stands. The Sunnyside, the original house now absorbed into the hotel, was built in 1894, and was occupied by Lord Milner for four years. The Kensington Sanatorium dates originally from 1897, with an extension added in 1905.

The list goes on.

Photos:
1. The splendid Cullinan home, The View which at one time could see all the way to Pretoria.
2. Windybrow theatre as it is today.
3. The old house attached to the workshop of De Klerk's coppersmith

Article and photograph/s courtesy of City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za).

For more information on historic Johannesburg, visit Discover Joburg.
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