Practised as an architect in Cape Town from 1890. He was born in South Africa, but his parents were from Germany and Seeliger formed part of a group of architects and builders from Germany and Italy who were working in the Cape. Seeliger was born in Paarl. His parents, on their way to Australia from Germany, had broken their journey in Cape Town where, defrauded of their money, they had been obliged to remain in South Africa. They settled in the German quarter of Cape Town, the St Martini area, and Seeliger was educated at the 'Penny School' in Lower Kloof St, training later as a carpenter and builder. He was offered a free passage to Germany where relations in Berlin volunteered to see him through his architectural studies and practical training at the Baugewerkschule, Berlin. Completing his studies, he worked for a time in the office of Professor M Mueller in Berlin before returning to Cape Town, opening practice there in 1890. Among his early clients was the South African News, in whose building he had his office from about 1890. He designed their premises in Keerom St (1904/1905) and later (c1924) supervised the remodelling of the building for Die Burger. He retained his office in this building until about 1936 when he no longer required it, retiring on account of his health.
He married in 1894, designing his own house, Im Busch at 43 Camp Rd in about 1894, (now demolished and replaced by a block of flats, Silvretta). Seeliger and his friends the builders Joseph Rubbi, Anton Benning and Henry Teubes, the Government Surveyor, built themselves seaside houses at Kommetjie in about 1905. These were illustrated in the South African News (23.9.1905). In about 1909/1910 Seeliger had to look for work owing to the depression, he worked for eighteen months in Luderitzbucht (Luderitz) in South West Africa (Namibia), designing buildings for the Deutsche Diamant Gesellschaft among others, one of which buildings was reproduced on a commemorative stamp in 1981. It is thought that he had a hand in the design of the Christuskirche on the hill in Windhoek. He returned to Cape Town in about 1910 and continued his practice, designing churches, commercial buildings and private houses, the latter often in a modified Cape Dutch style. After the First World War he did a great deal of work, not yet identified, for a friend and businessman Mr Eilenberg. He died in Cape Town in 1938. He was a loyal supporter of the German Lutheran Church, and a committee member of the Hilfsverein, (helping German families during the First World War, particularly those suffering from the internment of a family member); the German Red Cross Society made him an award for this service after the war.
(Cape Times 20 Jan 1938 obit; Die Burger 20 Jan 1938 obit; DSAB III: 736-37; Seeliger 1986; ISAA mem list; SAA&B May 1905:157; SAAE&S Jnl Sep 1907:212 ill; SAB Feb 1938:71, 79 obit; SAWW 1908) 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
* Indicates buildings on the Pryce-Lewis list
2 Double-storeyed cottages for D Maag: 1891. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 2 Semi-detached and 2 detached dwellings for A Fettig: n.d.. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 2 Single-storey cottages for AC Holm: 1898. Higgovale, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 2 Single-storey cottages for C Vandre: 1891. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 2 Single-storey cottages for MJ Spengler: 1893. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 2 Single-storey villas for J de Waal: 1898. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 2 Single-storey villas for JJ White: n.d.. Newlands, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 3 Single-storey cottages for A Wendlandt: 1895. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 3 Single-storey cottages for C Krumm: 1895. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 3 Single-storey cottages for N Larsen: 1895. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 3 Single-storey dwellings for JJ White: 1905. Newlands, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 4 Houses for AR McKenzie: 1891. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 4 Labourers' cottages for the Moravian Church: 1893. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 4 Single-storey cottages for D Maag: 1891. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 4 Single-storey cottages for F Ferner: 1894. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 4 Single-storey cottages for FB Steer: 1897. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 4 Single-storey cottages for W Higgo: n.d.. Higgovale, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 4 Single-storey villas for J Studer: 1897. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 5 Single-Storey Cottages for D Hagar: 1898. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 5 Single-storey cottages for Mrs LP Fuhl: 1896. Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| All Friends Hotel: n.d. : 1894. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect 1894 upgrade
| Annandale Hall: 1800s : 1898. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Additions) *
| Bakery for Messrs D Mills and Sons: 1896. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Brewery Reservoir for EH Martienssen: 1800s : 1896. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Burg Street Chambers: 1900. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Cape College for Advanced Technical Education: 1921. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Cape Forage Company - Warehouse, shed and brick exterior: 1902. Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for C Bottger: 1894. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for C Rieb: 1892. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for H Schreiner: 1897. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for J Cohen: 1897. De Waterkant, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for JE Heydenrick: 1894. Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for Julian Bram: 1895. Oranjezicht, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for P Brink: 1897. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for P Friebus: 1895. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for R Hairbottle: 1897. Higgovale, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for RJ Higgo: 1894. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for RJ Higgo: 1894. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottage for W Higgo: 1895. Higgovale, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cottages for G Scheaffer: 1895. Oranjezicht, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Cowhouse for S Baard: 1895. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Die Burger printing works, alt: 1928. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Domestic building for W Higgo: 1897. Higgovale, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Double-Storeyed house and shop for C Sass: 1894. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Double-storeyed house for GJ Coetzee: 1898. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| EK Green Warehouse: 1914. De Waterkant, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Engineer's Shop for P Nowak: 1897. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| H Levy Bldg, now Horst Heckmann Motors: 1902. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Highlands House - Jewish Home for the Aged: n.d. : 1937. Vredehoek, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Holding Cell and additional facilities: c.1890s. Goedverwacht, Western Cape - Architect (Attributed)
| Hotel: pre-1908. De Aar, Northern Cape - Architect
| House: c1920. Tamboers Kloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| House and shop for C Krumm: 1894. De Waterkant, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House and shop for C Stervien: 1897. De Waterkant, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House Buchanan Lee: n.d.. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| House Ellenberg: 1923. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| House for CJ Stewien: 1895. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House for E Schmahr: 1895. Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House for EI Begley: 1895. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House for JD Coley: 1894. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House for W Tubb: 1895. Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House Green: 1912. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| House H Becker: 1912. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| House Seeliger: c1904. Kommetjie, Western Cape - Architect
| House Seeliger: Im Busch: c1894. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House Spilhaus: Hohenort: 1906. Constantia, Western Cape - Architect
| House Vollmer, Alphen Hill: n.d.. Wynberg, Western Cape - Architect
| JH Stark & Co for H Becker: 1928. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| JH Sturk (sic) & Co Bldg: pre-1908. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Loader St 81-89, Houses: 1891. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Loader St 99-107, Houses: 1891. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Lutheran Church - Zionskirche: 1897. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Masonic Hall - Lodge de Goede Hoop: 1801. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Alterations and additions after fire) *
| Mission Church: 1896. Goedverwacht, Western Cape - Architect
| Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk, Tower and additions: pre-1908. Darling, Western Cape - Architect
| Parsonage with Post Office and Registrar of Births and Deaths: 1891. Goedverwacht, Western Cape - Architect (Attributed)
| Residence for Mrs A Stahl: 1895. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| SA News Building - Nasionale Pers: 1904 : 1937. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect 1904
| Shop for SJ Hofmeyer: 1898. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Single-storey dwelling house for J Higgo: 1895. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Single-storey house for IB Herbert: 1899. Lansdowne, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Single-storey house for JJ White: 1905. Newlands, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Single-storey house with stable for D Hagar: 1897. Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Single-storey residence for H Michaelis: 1891. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Single-storey villa for JJ White: 1905. Newlands, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Single-storey villa for S Amen: 1899. Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Single-storey villa with stables, coach-house and store room for F Thomashoff: 1902. Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Spilhaus and Co: c1901. De Waterkant, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Spilhaus Store: n.d.. Parow, Western Cape - Architect
| St Martin's Public School: 1800s : 1895. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Alterations and additions) *
| St Mary's Convent: 1920. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect (Alterations and additions) *
| Stable and coach house for J Hendriks: 1897. Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Stable and coach house for J Higgo: 1898. Higgovale, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Stable for 9 cows for MJ Spengler: 1892. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Stable for W Higgo: 1897. Higgovale, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Stables for 20 horses for NEH Martienssen: 1896. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Studio for J Morstadt: 1892. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Teachers' Training College, now a school: n.d.. Robertson, Western Cape - Architect
| Town Hall: pre-1908. Strand, Western Cape - Architect
| Villa for C Steweih: 1897. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Villa for F Boesen: 1896. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Villa for W Schreiber: 1898. Oranjezicht, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Villa residence for Mrs A Smidt: 1895. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Warehouse for W Spilhaus: 1895. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Welmoed Villa: 1800s : 1913. Kenilworth, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
|
Books citing SEELIGER CPIA Committee. 1983. The Buildings of Cape Town 1983 : Phase Two. Volume Three : Catalogue and Classification. Cape Town: Cape Provincial Institute of Architects. pp
| Fransen, Hans. 2004. The old buildings of the Cape. A survey of extant architecture from before c1910 in the area of Cape Town - Calvinia - Colesberg - Uitenhage. Johannesburg & Cape Town: Jonathan Ball Publishers. pp 41, 51, 66, 71, 138, 141, 348, 590
| HSRC. 1977. Dictionary of South African Biography Volume III. Pretoria: Tafelberg for The Human Sciences Research Council. pp 736-737
| ISAA. 1927. Register of Members the Institute of South African Architects. Johannesburg: ISAA (Unpublished Record). pp S3
| Martin, Desmond. 2007. Walking Long Street. Cape Town: Struik. pp 63
| Picton-Seymour, Désirée. 1977. Victorian Buildings in South Africa. Cape Town: AA Balkema. pp 79, 81, 109, 123
| Radford, D. 1979. The architecture of the Western Cape, 1838-1901. A study of the impact of Victorian aesthetics and technology on South African architecture. Johannesburg: Unpublished Ph.D thesis. Dept of Arch. University of the Witwatersrand. pp
| Rennie, John for CPIA. 1978. The Buildings of Central Cape Town 1978. Volume Two : Catalogue. Cape Town: Cape Provincial Institute of Architects. pp
| Rennie, John for CPIA. 1978. The Buildings of Central Cape Town 1978. Volume One : Formative Influences and Classification. Cape Town: Cape Provincial Institute of Architects. pp
| Walker, Michael. 2010. A Statement In Stone. Cape Town: Privately published by Michael Walker. pp 22-24
| Walker, Michael. 2012. Early architects of Cape Town and their buildings (1820 - 1926) with postcard illustrations, The. St James: Michael Walker. pp 113
| Walker, Michael. 2015. Old hotels of Cape Town (1890-1911), The : A history long forgotten, seldom told. St James: Published Privately. pp 16, 76
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