Upcoming Tours
Upstairs Downstairs at Northwards – Mother’s Day
Type of Tour
House Tour
Date
Sunday, 11th May 2025
Time and Duration
9:00 (2 hours)
Cost
JHF Members: R220
Non-members: R330
(including tea and scones)
Max no of people
40
Description
Bring your family and friends to celebrate Mother’s Day with the JHF as we explore the iconic and romantic Randlord mansion of Northwards, with a special focus on the remarkable women who have called it home.
Join your guide, David Gurney, as we wander through the grand rooms that still echo with the presence of wild and beautiful Josie Dale Lace, whose endless receptions and dinner parties were the talk of high society in early Johannesburg. We’ll also encounter the formidable Mrs Gertrude Albu, whose large family was brought up in the house.
The extravagant lifestyle of the Randlords necessitated many servants and this tour takes us behind the scenes to discover what it was like to be one of the young girls and women employed to cook, clean and tend to their mistresses. We’ll even hear about the meals they prepared via some original recipes of the day.
Following the tour, we’ll enjoy the leisurely life with tea and scones (included in the tour price).
Meeting Place
Northwards, 21 Rockridge Road, Parktown
Special Notes
Free and secure parking inside
Guides
David Gurney
Contact Number
060 813 3239
Killarney Through the Years - From Farmland to Flatlands
Type of Tour
Walking Tour
Date
Saturday, 17th May 2025
Time and Duration
9:00 (2 hours)
Cost
JHF Members: R180
Non-members: R290
Max no of people
40
Description
The JHF is holding our famous Big Book Sale at Holy Family College on Saturday 17th May, so why not make a day of it by adding in a walking tour through lovely Killarney either before or after you browse?
As one of the few upper-income flatlands in the metropolis, Killarney is among Joburg’s most interesting suburbs. Since its establishment, this relatively small parcel of land has been transformed from a quaint farm to its current status as a “mini-Manhattan” that houses a wonderfully diverse population of residents.
Along the way, it has been home to one of the first Hollywood-style film studios in South Africa, which was later replaced by the Killarney Mall – one of the city’s first suburban shopping centres. Meanwhile, an eclectic collection of high-rise apartment buildings was developed, encompassing a variety of architectural styles that includes some of Johannesburg’s finest Art Deco facades, along with excellent examples of mid-century Italian and Brazilian modernism.
This delightful walking tour, led by Kgao Mashego and Adam Golding, celebrates all aspects of the Killarney story and even includes a walk through The Wilds – a lovely green haven that harks back to the area’s bucolic past.
Come and discover some of the best-kept secrets and hidden treasures of this too-often overlooked suburb.
The tour starts at Holy Family College, where parking is available. Don’t forget to bring along drinking water and wear a hat and good walking shoes. The tour distance will be about 5km and will include some steep stone pathways. Allow an additional 30 minutes to walk back to Holy Family from Killarney.
Meeting Place
Holy Family College, 40 Oxford Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg
Contact Number
060 813 3239
The Mansions of Oxford Road
Type of Tour
Walking Tour
Date
Sunday, 18th May 2025
Time and Duration
9:30 (2 hours)
Cost
JHF Members: R180
Non-members: R290
Max no of people
40
Description
The JHF is holding our famous Big Book Sale at Holy Family College, Parktown, on Sunday 18th May. So why not make a day of it by adding in a walking tour along glamorous Oxford Road either before or after you browse?
Oxford Road started its life as a fire break between farms but, following the rapid growth of Joburg after the discovery of gold, soon became a major access route from the city centre to the emerging northern suburbs. As such, a number of elegant mansions were constructed along this prestigious thoroughfare.
Led by guides Lena de Bellis and Michelle Woodrow, this entertaining walking tour visits four of these grand residences, all nearing their centenaries. Although now being used as business premises, each of the mansions is well-maintained by their proud owners who appreciate the heritage value of their properties.
Please note: this is a walking tour and, although it’s not very strenuous, please wear good shoes, a sunhat, sunblock and bring along some drinking water.
Meeting Place
Holy Family College, 40 Oxford Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg
Contact Number
060 813 3239
Kofifi, Triomf, Little Harlem – The Many Names of Sophiatown
Type of Tour
Walking and Self-Drive Tour
Date
Saturday, 31st May 2025
Time and Duration
14:00 (2.5 hours)
Cost
JHF Members: R280
Non-members: R390
Max no of people
40
Description
Originally established in 1903 as one of the few ‘freehold’ suburbs in Joburg, by the 1950s Sophiatown was the stuff of legend – a cosmopolitan enclave filled with jazz, shebeens, and rambunctious characters.
Sadly, this vibrant mixture of glamour and grime (as epitomised in the articles of Drum magazine) came to a crashing end with brutal forced removals under the Group Areas Act. But there are still glimpses of old Sophiatown to be seen – if you know where to look.
So, join your guides Karen Curry and Boitumelo Moletsane for a memorable journey through the many facets of this creative and intellectual centre. Highlights include visits to some of the few remaining buildings from the ‘Sophiatown Renaissance’ as well as wonderful views from the edge of the ridge.
The meeting place is outside the Dr AB Xuma House Museum on Toby Street and, due to the distances involved, will include some walking and some self-drive sections. We advise that friends and family share cars. The price of the tour includes admission and donations.
Meeting Place
Dr A B Xuma House Museum, 73 Toby Street, Corner of Edward Road, Sophiatown
Guides
Karen Curry and Boitumelo Moletsane
Contact Number
060 813 3239