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Presidency
Bloemfontein, Free State
Gustav Gregory Richard HALLÉ: Supervising Architect
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Contact Artefacts | MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | Presidency Gustav Gregory Richard HALLÉ: Supervising Architect | | ||||||
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Click to view large map Coordinates: | Also referred to as the Residency. A remarkably handsome massively built structure erected, at a cost of no less than £8,000, as the official residence of the President of the Orange Free State. The President is elected by the votes of the whole of the burghers in the State; his term of office being for five years, with the right of presenting himself for re-election. In his administration he is assisted by the Executive Council, consisting of three, besides the Landdrost of Bloemfontein, and the Government Secretary. Ref: Photographs of South Africa Comprising Representative Views etc, The South African Photo-Publishing Company, Cape Town, 1894: Pg 97. [Submitted by William MARTINSON, January 2011] In 1933 the building was transferred to the OFS Provincial Administration and used as a girls' school. (RIBA Jnl Feb 1887:1831) Transcript of National Monuments Plaque:
HISTORIESE MONUMENTE-KOMMISSIE Transcript of Centenary stone: 13 MARCH 1900 - 13 MAART 2000 ---------------- In 1840, a Trekker cattle farmer, Johan Nicolaas Brits, built his hartebeest house about 300 meters from the fountain in the area of the current Presidency. With the arrival of the British representative, Major HD Warden, Brits assisted him in constructing a clay house on this site as a Residency. In 1854, the Republican government took over this house with its thatched roof and further expansions to serve as the Free State Presidential residence, where the first three presidents (Hoffman, Boshoff, and Pretorius) lived. In 1860, the Free State Volksraad approved plans for a new residence for the State President. The building, costing approximately £2,500, initially had 9 or 10 rooms. It was a simple yet elegant structure, reminiscent of early Cape houses, featuring a wide veranda, two wings, large high windows, and spacious doors. Several improvements and extensions were later added to this building. The maintenance of the Presidency from the 1860s incurred significant costs, and over time, the need for a more dignified building for the President became apparent. A competition for designing plans for a new Presidential residence was announced, and in 1884, 27 plans were submitted. The prize of £100 was awarded to Lennox Canning of the Queenstown firm Canning and Goad. The Volksraad allocated £10,000 for the new Presidency. When it became clear that Canning’s design would cost significantly more, he was asked to simplify the plans. The new Presidency was built on the site of the old building, with construction costs amounting to about £12,000. On 22 May 1885, President JH Brand, in his 22nd year in office, laid the cornerstone. The Presidency was completed in 1886. In 1888 a three-part arch was inserted under the main entrance arch for additional support. (Roodt, 1976) After the British forces captured Bloemfontein on 13 March 1900, Field Marshal Lord FS Roberts used the residence, and from 1901 to 1910, it served as the Government House, the residence of the Governor of the Orange River Colony, Sir HJ Goold-Adams. In 1910, it was occupied by the Eunice School. In 1933, the Presidency was transferred to the Free State Provincial Administration. It was subsequently used as a school, hostel, offices for the Defense Force, offices for the Free State Education Department, a Provincial Library, and finally as the home of SUKOVS. The Presidency, a fairly imposing and large double-story building in the “Scottish Baronial” style, is primarily constructed of Bayswater sandstone. The façade is asymmetrical, with a corner tower at each end. The towers—octagonal on the left with a weather vane and square on the right with a floral motif spire—have pointed roofs. The portal, with its Devonshire marble floor, is grand and impressive, and the large reception room with its yellowwood floor was suitable for dances and receptions. In the 1970s, the then Administrator, Advocate GF van L Froneman, approached the Minister of Finance to secure funding for the restoration of the Old Presidency. Professor Leon Roodt from the University of the Orange Free State was appointed by the Department of Public Works as the architect for planning the restoration work. Restorations were done in more durable Ficksburg sandstone. (Roodt, 1976). The restored Old Presidency was opened to the public on 24 February 1985. (Summarized by Paul v d Merwe from: afrikanergeskiedenis.co.za) References:
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