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MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | PEEK, George DixBorn: 1839 07 08Died: 1901 09 22 Architect | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Also referred to as DIX PEEK, George. Dix Peek came out to South Africa as 'Consulting Engineer and Architect to a party whose object was to found a township named Bridgetown in the berg ... about 100 miles from Cape Town' (Dix Peek in Looking Back, March 1992:36). The same source states that Dix Peek returned to Cape Town and taught mathematics at a 'Black College'. The author was born at Zonnebloem College. When the family came to Port Elizabeth (n.d.) Dix Peek was master in charge of the Black (?) Grey Institute but when he started work as an architect 'for which he had been trained', the family moved out to Walmer. In 1878 Dix Peek left with his Company of Port Elizabeth Militia for Kaffraria, returning to continue 'raking in the shekels', he was a 'royal spender' and the family lived well. According to an article by AG Oberholster, George Dix Peek designed the second Standard Bank, Main St, Port Elizabeth in 1874 (opened May 1876). The building was extended in 1878 to designs of the same architect and was known as 'the bank with the bulge', an error having been made on the correct angle of construction. It remains his best known building. He was apparently a soldier by inclination and served for many years in Prince Alfred's Guard, taking part in frontier wars with distinction. He appears to have been in practice from 1868. In June 1879 he was briefly in partnership with WH MILES. The 1898-99 General directory of South Africa listed him under architects as 'Dix Peek, G & Son' in Port Elizabeth, but so far nothing is known of his son. When Dix Peek died in Port Elizabeth he was described by the papers as being the 'oldest architect in Port Elizabeth ... if not exactly a celebrity, a prominent and useful member of our community'. (General dir of SA 1898-99; Harradine 1985; Looking Back March 1992:36-42; Oberholster, PBD suppl Sep/Oct 1982: 1-7) For more information visit the website of Ross Dix-Peek All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon. List of projects With photographs With notes
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