OUR VISION

Our City's built heritage resources are precious, non-renewable, finite and irreplaceable. Through its core activities of Tours, Research, Education, Conservation and Activism, the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation aims to protect our rich and varied heritage of Johannesburg and its associated social history, for the use and enjoyment of both current and future generations.

Johannesburg Heritage Foundation Constitution

Please click on the link to open the document - CONSTITUTION

 

 

 

CURRENT ISSUES

67 MINUTES FOR NELSON MANDELA

A small group of old faithfuls was joined by Ward Councillor Bridget Steer who got stuck into tearing ivy off the gravestones with as much gusto as the rest. Johannesburg City Parks had rid the cemetery of robinea, which made it easier to spot bug weed and even ordinary secateurs lopped those branches off. We checked up on Mary Fitzgerald cutting back any ivy that was venturing close and made sure Thomas Douglas of Douglasdale stood free of weeds in the centre of the family plot.
We managed to reach Dr AB Xhuma’s grave and a volunteer from the Hindu Crematorium came and raked around it .

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

For those of you on our Stained Glass Window tour yesterday here are the photographs of what we missed no thanks to the Methodist Church Head Office which never replied to our requests to be allowed access to the Braamfontein Methodist Church in Rissik Street on Civic Hill

 

HUGE VICTORY!

Well done to Flo Bird and the members of the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation.

Rand Steam Laundries

 

1. The dreaded beetle destroying oaks, planes, maples and many indigenous trees.

This is such a hideous threat to Johannesburg both environmentally and aesthetically. The possibility that we may lose hundreds of thousands of trees to the beetle is strong. In southern California the infected trees were cut down and incinerated. Joburg City Parks is lagging in taking action. They need to offer help and incineration facilities. Anyone driven along Club Street in Linksfield lately will understand why we are anxiously watching the great Oaks at Holy Family College and also at the Country Club Johannesburg.

2. Rosebank Library Park.

We were alerted by a Heritage Impact Assessment to the fact that the CITY OF JOHANNESBURG plans to demolish the Library and sell half the park for an upmarket development. The Library they say will go somewhere more suitable. COJ has already garnered over R10 million but from undefined Rosebank developers for parks. How come they are selling instead of buying them? Something is really rotten when you plan hugely increased density 12 – 20 storeys of accommodation – and sell half of one of Rosebank’s original Parks.
Sad to say though this dreadful plan started with the ANC in charge in 2008 it has the strong support of the DA! Instead of investigating who was going to make a small fortune from selling off Public Park not for economic housing, but for upmarket accommodation the DA has apparently supported it to the hilt. The park is said to be unsafe and unworthy due to the local drug dealers who inhabit it. What happened to the Metro Police?

3. EIGHT Blue Plaques have been erected in only two days. So watch out for Riviera Mansions in Riviera, Phoenix Place in Park Lane Parktown, , the Country Club Johannesburg, Trig Beacon Oxford Road just off the corner of Glenhove, Master Mansions in Ntemi Piliso, the Lutheran church in Doornfontein, Begbie’s Foundry Explosion in Anderson Street City and Suburban and the delightful Art Deco in Troyeville. This is our 5th plaque in Troyeville.

RESEARCH

Digitisation project reaches 30 000 entries.
Diana Steele and her dedicated digitising team have made incredible strides. The index of their work is available on line to anyone but more information can be requested on payment of a small fee.

 

Click here to view the Research Page

 

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