One of the landmark historical buildings in Potchefstroom is to be sold by auction. The former King’s Hotel is up for bidding on 21 February. In its heyday the King’s was known as one of the best hotels in the country.
One of the best hotels in the country
King's Hotel in 1932
The Baumann family built the King’s in 1902 “in a substantial scale” according to a Potchefstroom tourism brochure, published in 1932. Building costs amounted to a whopping £25 000. The Baumanns owned a brewery just across the street from the hotel and their beer was exported in large quantities to the newly established Johannesburg, where it became quite famous.
The King’s was a magnificent building in the Victorian style. On the roof the name was delicately written in wrought iron work. Two ornamental towers capped both ends of the building which faced onto the Potchefstroom market square.
Wrought iron pillars supported a balcony that ran the length of the front. This created an excellent space where the genteel patrons could sip tea in comfort and shade and watch the bustling activities on the market square below. They also had a bird’s eye view on building activities...
