From Mining Camp to Metropolis - The buildings of Johannesburg 1886-1940

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Book
Author: van der Waal, Gerhard-Mark
Year: 1987
Title: From Mining Camp to Metropolis - The buildings of Johannesburg 1886-1940
Place: Pretoria
Publisher: Human Sciences Research Council

From Mining Camp to Metropolis tells a fascinating tale, which will be read with enjoyment by all who are interested in their environment. This highly readable account brings to life the history of old buildings, places and events, while providing the specialist with a veritable gold mine of information about the phenomenal development of South Africa's leading city. It explores the city's rich architectural heritage — the almost inevitable byproduct of the wealth generated by Johannesburg's powerful gold mining industry.

The Golden City is in many ways a city like any other, and readers who are familiar with urban city life should experience an immediate affinity with the contents of this book, and also gain a better understanding of their own urban environment. In one sense Johannesburg differs from other cities in South Africa and elsewhere - its growth in a matter of a century from mining camp to metropolis is unquestionably unique. It is the only city in the world ever to arise in such a short period, in such an isolated position with no surrounding natural beauty to speak of — and so closely linked to a single industry Johannesburg's architecture and urban design therefore represent a particularly interesting chapter in the visual history of our cities.

What is new in this pioneering work is the discerning study of the historical development of an extensive urban area. Not only are the most important buildings highlighted, but the urban lay-out and panorama are discussed in their various stages of development. In this context attention is specifically focused on the relationships that exist between various components of built-up areas - for example the relationship between the street and the facade of the buildings lining it, and the surface of a square in relation to the buildings erected upon it and surrounding it. Attention is also given to the social and economic use to which the interior and exterior spaces of buildings are put.

This authoritative study promises to become the standard text for the first six decades of Johannesburg's physical growth. Many largely unknown photographs of superior quality have been included. There are also eight maps, seven of which were specially drawn for the book by the author. The four chapters are well supported by extensive notes and references based upon archival research and a review of historical sources. A bibliography and index facilitate the use of the book as a work of reference.

In its entirety From Mining Camp to Metropolis, with its engrossing account and excellent illustrations, appropriately embodies the spirit of Johannesburg's centenary and enriches our appreciation of the Golden City and the human endeavour which created it.
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Towns linked to this book
Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp All

Buildings linked to this book
Aegis Building - First, 1893, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 73
Aegis Building - Second, 1934-1936, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 201
Alliance Building, 1931 : 1935-1936, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 201
Anstey's Building - Third, 1935, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 203
Arcade Building, 1889-1890, Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 36
Arop House, 1932 : 1935-1936, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 212
Astor Mansions, 1931, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 206 ill, 207, 208
Athenaeum Club, 1903, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 123-124
Bank of Africa - First, 1888, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 33, 34 ill
Bank of Africa - Second, 1897, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 65 ill
Barnato Buildings, 1890 : 1892, Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 33 ill, 35, 36
Beresford House, 1925-1927 : 1934, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 189 ill, 201, 202 ill
Bevern & Co Building, 1905-1906, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 133
Bradlows Building, 1925, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 204 ill, 205
Caledonian Hall, 1905, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 124
Carlton Centre, 1967-1974, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 183
Carlton Hotel - First, 1906 : 1935 : 1960s, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 138 ill
Castle Brewery Building, 1893, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 87,88
Castle Mansions - First, 1899-1902, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 80
Castle Mansions - Second, 1930, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 208 ill
Cenotaph, 1925, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 189
Central Fire Station, 1931, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 182 ill
Chamber of Mines Building - First, 1894-1895, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 71, 73, 74 ill
Chamber of Mines Building - Second, 1921-1923, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 201
Chamber of Mines Hospital, 1937, Cottesloe, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 190 ill
Chrysler House - Atkinson House, 1938, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 172, 173, 198 ill, 201, 202 ill
Chudleigh Building - Second, now OK Bazaars, 1912, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 137
City Hall, 1915 : 1937, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 106, 107, 112 ill, 113 ill, 121, 175, 176, 189
Cleghorn, Mackenzie and Co Building, c1904, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 133
Clifton Wesleyan Methodist Church, 1897, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 85
Colosseum Theatre, 1931, Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 192
Consolidated Building, 1904, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 133-134
Corner House - Second, 1889, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 34 ill, 35
Corner House - Third, 1903, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 130 ill, 132
Cosmopolitan Hotel, 1899, Jeppe, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 88
Cullinan Building, 1906, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 137, 140 ill
Cuthbert and Co Store, 1903, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 134-135
Daventry Court, 1933-1934, Killarney, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 224
Davidson's Mansions, 1923-1925, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 207
Delta Environmental Centre, 1934-1935, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 216 ill, 218
Denstone Court, 1937, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 209
Dunkeld Mansions, 1939, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 225, 226 ill
Dunvegan Chambers, 1933, Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 206 ill, 207-208
EK Green Bldg, 1897, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 79
Elephant Trading Building, 1919-1923, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 205 ill
Empire Theatre - Second, 1905-1906, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 127
Exploration Building, 1897, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 69, 71, 72 ill
Gainsborough Mansions, 1925, Berea, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 222
Geen & Richards store, c1919, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 135, 136 ill
General Mining and Finance Corporation Building - First, 1903-1904, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 137, 138 ill
General Post Office, 1897 : 1905, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 55, 56 ill, 57, 63, 85, 106, 107, 112, 127, 175, 176
Glenalmond, c1932, Melrose, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 233
Government Building, 1887, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 14, 26 ill
Grand National Hotel - First, 1888-1889, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 38
Great Synagogue, 1912-1914, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 119, 120 ill
Harvard Buildings, 1928, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 207
Hatfield House, 1904, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 133
Hazeldene Hall, 1902, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 162 ill, 163
Herbert Evans, The Paint House, 1914, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 137, 138 ill
Hoër Seunskool Helpmekaar Boys High School, 1926 : 1945 : pre 1956, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 185 ill
House Allen - Yukon, c1911, Bezuidenhouts Valley, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 163 ill
House Archdeacon and Mrs Furse: Bishopskop, 1904, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 156 ill, 157
House CL Andersson: Dolobran, 1905-1906, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 161-163
House Clayton, 1890, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 41
House Corlett: Ellan Vannin, c1930, Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 230 ill
House FV Rees: Etunzini, 1928, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 7
House HD Evans, 1930, Dunkeld, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 235
House L Phillips - Hohenheim - Otto Beit Convalescent Home, 1892-1894, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 92 ill
House Lipschitz - Noordhoek, 1938 : 1969, Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 235
House Page, 1904, Waverley, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 163 ill
House Sir Thomas N Cullinan: The View, 1896-1897 : 1903, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 94
House T Reunert - Windybrow, 1896, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 92 ff
Jewish High School, 1910, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 123, 125 ill
Johannesburg Civic Art Gallery, 1910 : 1987, Joubert Park, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 114 ill, 106, 108, 115, 117, 176
John Orr Building, 1935-1936, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 203-204
Jooste & Bryant Building, 1906, Jeppestown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 151
Kensington Flats, 1897, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 81 ill
King Edward VII High School for Boys, 1908-1911, Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 147
Lewis and Marks Building - Second, 1935, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 201 ill
Lhenveolan, pre-1944, Killarney, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 225, 226
Lucerne Mansions, 1930, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 207
Luthje's Langham Hotel, 1903-1905, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 141 ill
Main Post Office - Jeppe Street, 1933-1935, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 183 ill
Manhattan Court, 1937, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 209, 211 ill
Manners Mansions, 1939, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 211
Market Building - Second, 1890, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 56
Markham's Building, 1896, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 75, 76, 77 ill, 83
Marlborough House, 1905, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 137
Masonic Art Building, 1938, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 205, 206 ill
Meischke's Building, c1920, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 131 ill, 132
Metro Theatre, 1932, Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 192 ill
Mosenthals Building, 1911, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 135, 136 ill
National Mutual Buildings, 1904-1906, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 136
Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk, 1906, Fairview, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 150
Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk Irene, 1932, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 195-196
Netherlands Bank - First, c1897, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 65 ill
New Club, 1897, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 61, 62 ill
Normandie Court, 1937, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 210 ill
Northwards, 1904 : 1912, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 153, 155, 158 ill, 161
Norwich Union Building, 1896, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 69, 71
NZASM Rand Tram Railway Station - Park, 1894-1897, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 57
Old Mutual, 1894, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 66
Palace Building, 1889, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 34 ill, 36
Paramount Building, n.d., Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 138 ill
Park Station, 1894-1897, Kempton Park, Gauteng. pp 57
Park Station : Second Main Station, 1932, Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 180, ff
Pollock Mansions, c1897, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 80
Post Office - First, 1887, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 49, 55
Public Library, 1898, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 61
Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital, 1943, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 185 ill
Radoma Court, 1937, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 224, 225
Railways Administration Building - First, 1904, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 115, 121, 176, 181
Rand Club - Second, 1888-1889, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 28
Rand Club - Third, 1902-1904 : 1935, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 122, 123 ill
Ridge Heights, c1932, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 233
SA Institute for Medical Research, 1912, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 114 ill, 115
Sacke Building, 1903, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 132
School of Mines, 1938, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 182 ill
Silesia Building, 1896, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 69, 70
Somerset House, 1904-1905, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 132
St James Mansions, 1904-1905, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 139
St Mary's Anglican Church, 1887, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 14 ill, 15
St Mary's Hall, 1904, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 117, 118 ill
Standard Bank of South Africa, 1905-1907, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 126 ill
Standard Theatre, 1891, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 55, 79
Stock Exchange Building - First, 1887, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 16, 16 ill, 25, 32
Stock Exchange Building - Second, 1889, Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 30 ill, 32, 35, 63, 68
Stock Exchange Building - Third, 1902, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 104, 105, 108, 127, 128, 129, 131, 177, 199
Stonehouse - House Baker, 1902, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 157 ill
Supreme Court Buildings, 1914, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 113, 114 ill
Surrey House, 1934, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 209
Synagogue, 1888-1889, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 30 ill, 32
Thabana House, 1902-1903, Jeppestown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 163 ill
Trades Hall, 1913-1914, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 125
Transvaal University College - School of Mines, 1906, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 121 ill, 176
Transvaalsche Bank en Handelsvereeniging (later Security House), 1906, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 128
Union Castle Building, 1937-1939, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 200 ill, 201
Union Club, 1913 : 1936, Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 127
Union House, 1928, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 199 ill
University of the Witwatersrand, Central Block - Robert Sobukwe Block, 1920, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 185,186
University of the Witwatersrand, Main Block - Great Hall, 1920-1925 : 1937-1940, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 185, 186 ill
Walter Block, c1904, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 133
Walter Wise Building, 1935, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 211 ill
Winchester House, 1896 : 1932, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 67
Woolworths Building, 1934, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 202 ill, 203
YMCA Building - Second, 1912, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 124-125

People or firms linked to this book
ABURROW, Charles. pp 94
ABURROW and TREEBY. pp 94, 117, 118, 125, 135, 136, 163
CLAYTON, Harry. pp 41
COOKE, Bernard Stanley. pp 225, 226
COPE-CHRISTIE, James Alfred. pp 161-163
COWIN, Douglas Maurice. pp 236, 237, 239, 241, 242
COWIN and ELLIS. pp 187, 193, 194, 211, 214, 237, 241
COWIN and POWERS. pp 187, 198
COWIN, POWERS and ELLIS. pp 185, 186, 199, 208, 212, 231
DEPARTEMENT PUBLIEKE WERKEN - ZUID-AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK. pp 53, 56, 58, 84
DONALDSON, John Stanislaus. pp 15, 34, 38
DONALDSON and MANN. pp 136, 137
EMLEY and SCOTT. pp 74
FLEMING, Francis (Frank) Leonard Hodgson. pp 125, 147, 188, 195, 219
FREEMAN, Charles AS. pp 78 ill
GRINKER and SKELLY. pp 210, 224
HOOGTERP, John Albert. pp 234, 235
HOWDEN and STEWART. pp 121, 138, 176, 182, 211
LE ROITH, Harold Hersch (Harry). pp 206, 211, 214, 217, 218, 224, 225, 226, 227, 234, 236, 237, 239, 241
LINDHORST, Johannes Victor. pp 12 port, 14, 26, 34
MARTIENSSEN, Rex Distin. pp 187
McINTOSH and MOFFAT. pp 80, 127, 133, 136, 137, 139
MEISCHKE, Mattheus Carel August. pp 103
MOFFAT, John Abraham. pp 125, 133, 137, 138, 220
NURCOMBE and SUMMERLEY. pp 198, 211
REID, AH and W. pp 73, 79, 88
REID, GARDINER and MARTIN. pp 233
ROGERS COOKE, Percy. pp 192
SCHAERER, Theophile. pp 119, 120, 121, 124, 129
SINCLAIR, Duncan McDonald. pp 135, 136
STUCKE, William Henry. pp
TREEBY, Philip Edward. pp 137
WELLMAN, Ernest James. pp 117, 153