Old Park Station

Which of our city’s architectural treasures don’t receive the credit they deserve? During lockdown we explored Joburg’s most underrated historic buildings on our Instagram and Facebook pages, and we’re happy to share them here too! 

Our first nomination is the Lion Match Factory in Industria. Designed in 1936 by Richard Day, the monumental Lion Match Factory is an Art Deco palace of industry. The facade is delineated by a series of simplified columns, decorated with three matches on their capitals. The columns are framed by a cornice of crisp parallel lines that emphasise the building’s horizontality. The architect clearly defines three entrances - two on either end in monumental projecting wings, and the main entrance framed by elegant Art Deco waterfalls and topped with a clock and flagpoles.

Lion Match Factory, Industria (Johannesburg Heritage Foundation)

Our second nomination for Joburg’s most underrated historic buildings is House Hains in Yeoville. Almost everyone knows Dolobran in Parktown, the most whimsical and romantic of Parktown’s mansions. Its architect, Cope-Christie, designed precious few buildings in Johannesburg, but...

Anyone that has travelled in and out of the Joburg CBD recently will have noticed the massive MTN adverts covering Old Park Station, one of Joburg's priceless heritage structures. Not only has this been done illegally but it has shown an acute disregard for Johannesburg's heritage. The Provincial Heritage Resources Authority Gauteng (PHRAG) has been alerted, the owners (Transnet) are investigating how this could have happened and the team that uses the site as an events venue has been contacted by various groups and urged to remedy the situation (it appears as thoughthe team has committed to remove all the branding).

Another angle showing the MTN adverts all over Old Park Station (The Heritage Portal)

MTN is currently enjoying the benefits of a massive billboard visible to tens of thousands of customers but I wonder if the marketing team and its agency gave any thought to the reputational risk involved. Old Park Station has national and even international significance so splattering ads all over it is a massive no-no. If the mainstream media gets hold of the story it could be incredibly embarrassing and damaging to the MTN brand. There are overseas examples where advertising on a heritage site has even led consumers to boycott a company's product.

The entrepreneurs running Old Park Station must take responsibility for their part in...

On 21 August 2017, conservation architect Frances Woodgate delivered an outstanding speech at the pilot launch of The Station Market. Those lucky enough to be in the audience were treated to an in-depth look at the history, significance and future of one South Africa's great heritage landmarks. We are honoured to publish a full transcript of the speech below.

Good evening Madam Ambassador, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is an honour and a pleasure to be with you all at this important heritage site in the heart of Newtown’s Cultural Precinct.

As a conservation architect, one of the most important and interesting parts of my work is to research and understand heritage sites, in particular their history, significance and what makes them unique. When I arrived in Johannesburg in January 2015, this impressive structure was one of the first heritage landmarks to capture my attention. A few months later, the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation (JHF) invited me to research the structure for a Statement of Significance and I happily accepted (Click here to download).

The Old Park Station dates from 1896 and opened to passengers in 1897. This makes it one of the oldest surviving structures in Johannesburg, giving it exceptional historical value. It is also one of only two station structures in the region surviving from this period, giving it a high degree of rarity. It was commissioned by the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek and operated by the Netherlands South African Railway Company (NZASM), which later became Transnet. The structure...