To celebrate Heritage Weekend, all tour tickets are being offered at a discounted price:
R100 for advance bookings and R120 on the day (if there’s still availability).
Book soon to avoid disappointment!
Saturday 24 September
| 08:45 | The Leonardo – Reaching for the Stars It’s not a trip to outer space, but it’s the closest thing we’ve got! Join us for an out-of-this world journey to the top of the tallest building in Southern Africa – The Leonardo – situated in the heart of Africa’s richest square mile. From the roof, 234 meters above Maude Street, you’ll enjoy a magnificent 360-degree view of Sandton and its surrounds – with the Voortrekker Monument in the north, the Magaliesberg mountains in the west, the old city centre in the south, and the planes circling OR Tambo Airport in the east. Please note: early start time. We can’t be late! | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/kyA3P7 |
| 09:00 | Rockridge Road – Baker’s Parktown As an architect, Sir Herbert Baker certainly stamped his claim on Parktown – and no more so than along Rockridge Road. Offering large plots with spectacular views, this avenue became the preferred address for the Randlords when they decided to move away from the dusty city centre. And Baker was happy to oblige with a series of classic Joburg mansions. Our tour begins at the iconic Northwards and then heads down Rockridge Road as we visit Pilrig and St Margret’s before ending our walk at Baker’s personal residence, The Stone House, built in 1902. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/7ELUDL |
| 09:30 | Diagonal Street and the Struggle: Diagonal Street is one of Joburg’s most iconic thoroughfares, with its distinctive row of Victorian shopfronts dating back to 1896. Traditionally, this was home to a range of Indian shopkeepers and herbalists and, despite some threats of re-development in the 1980s, the colourful ‘trader’s alley’ endures to this day. But Diagonal Street isn’t just about retail. Join us as we explore the area’s impressive Struggle credentials, which involves the Sisulus, the Tambos and the Mandelas – not to mention the evil deeds perpetrated inside the dreaded John Vorster Square police station nearby. We’ll also be discussing the architectural heritage, which includes the famous ‘broekie lace’ facades, the landmark blue-glass ‘Diamond’ Building, and the Modernist designs of Wilhelm Pabst in China Town. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/1Gc5S3 |
| LUNCH – Food and Refreshments will be on sale | ||
| 14:00 | Fascinating Fordsburg Fordsburg has it all: a long (and explosive) history, beautiful buildings, incredible food, and fabulous fabrics. There’s even an old public lavatory with links to the infamous Battle of Fordsburg. Join us for an unforgettable walk through this dynamic hub as we follow the Blue Plaques through Fordsburg, with expert guides bringing stories of this fabled neighbourhood to life. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/43sAdp |
| 14:15 | Noordgesig – An Insider’s Perspective Noordgesig is one of the oldest ‘coloured’ townships in Joburg but its unique personality is often overshadowed by the fame of neighbouring Soweto. So, we’ve decided to put Noordgesig back on the map! Join passionate local residents Lavinia and Fabian on a very special heritage tour through their neighbourhood. Along the way, you’ll meet the people and enjoy the innovative public artworks that decorate the streets. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/N1esu0 |
| 14:30 | Wits Business School – Hidden Heritage The Wits Business School is a world-class academic institution. But the campus also contains three wonderful heritage homes: the romantic North Lodge, Outeniqua and the recently restored Beaulieu – one of the oldest Parktown houses still standing. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore the hidden heritage tucked away inside the WBS. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/bhZ0E2 |
Sunday 25 September
| 09:00 | Northwards – The Full Story Northwards is a Joburg landmark, perched on the Parktown Ridge, looking out over the city’s leafy northern suburbs. But how much do you really know about this Herbert Baker masterpiece? Join us for an exclusive tour with the custodian of Northwards, Neil Viljoen, as he takes us from cellar to attic – revealing the tempestuous history of this glorious mansion and the colourful characters who called it home. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/lwVAmn |
| 09:15 | Orlando East – 90th Birthday Celebration The oldest of the formal Soweto townships, Orlando East is turning 90 this year! To celebrate this momentous milestone, we are very excited to present a commemorative tour that will include a fascinating new exhibition on the neighbourhood and its history, and a visit to the home of James Mpanza Sofasonke – a seminal figure who led the first land grab in Soweto. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/dhJT9L |
| 09:30 | Forest Town Fantasy Once the plantation that supplied the mines of Joburg with pit props, Forest Town retains its verdant links to the past. With a wide range of architecture from Herbert Baker, Howden and Gerard Moerdijk to Pierre Swanepoel, Forest Town was also home to historical figures such as noted bacteriologist Dr. Frederick Lister, President Jacob Zuma and Mr Justice Saul Solomon. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/laOCvY |
| LUNCH – Food and Refreshments will be on sale | ||
| 14:00 | The Diamond Route – from The Beacon to The View The Randjeslaagte Beacon was erected in 1886 and, for a few years, marked the northern-most point of Johannesburg. Taking this landmark as our starting point, we’ll walk along the ‘Diamond Route’ and its lovely houses, including Muzi Yami, the Causeway and The View, home of the Cullinans, where we’ll be treated to a house tour. Our journey ends at Hazeldene Hall, bedecked with broekie lace frills and a ‘witches walk’. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/c9tIa5 |
| 14:00 | The Rand Revolt of 1922 Violent strikes by mine workers are nothing new, but the 1922 Rand Revolt was unlike anything South Africans had ever experienced. Starting in January 1922, the unrest quickly developed into a full-scale, armed workers’ rebellion aimed at overthrowing the state. Join us for the centenary commemoration of the Rand Revolt as we visit the Cottesloe School – where the so-called Knopkierie Striker Commando fired on advancing military forces, and the Milner Park School – where a contingent of the Transvaal Scottish was ambushed. We’ll finish our tour with a walk around the Fordsburg Market Square – where strike leaders Percy Fisher and Harry Spendiff met their end. It’s going to be an entertaining (and somewhat bloody) afternoon of history! | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/JK3R7a |
| 14:30 | Heritage Weekend: Art @ The Rand Club Join Brian McKechnie for an enlightening tour of the Rand Club’s historic Art Collection, featuring foundational works by Baines and Bowler, Pietro Annigoni’s portrait (which caused a stir in London), a Henry Pagram donated by Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, and an important commission by John Meyer. We’ll also view exciting contemporary work from the FirstRand collection including pieces from Owasu-Ankomah (who worked on Giorgio Armani’s Red Campaign), Michael MacGarry’s 21st Century African cityscapes, embroidery from the Mapula Trust, and a brand-new dome designed by South Africa’s favourite fashion designer, David Tlale. | Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/tCIRQ3 |
Please bring a hat, water and comfortable shoes.
All tours depart from Holy Family College – 40 Oxford Road, Parktown
Bookings can also be made through the JHF Office: mail@joburgheritage.org.za / 060 813 3239
A tasty assortment of eats and drinks will be on sale throughout the weekend including muffins, breakfast rolls, bobotie burgers, pulled BBQ pork, frankfurter hot dogs, mac & cheese, biltong, dry wors and ice-cream! Water, soft drinks, coffee and tea will also be available. Catering is being provided by Blessing Bucket Grub and a percentage of all sales will go towards the Parktown North Methodist Church soup kitchen feeding scheme. Any additional donations will be gratefully accepted.
Friends of Johannesburg Cemeteries will also be selling irises and agapanthus at the book sale. All proceeds from plant sales will go towards the FOJC to help fund their important work. Cash would be preferred, if possible.