A short distance from the modern Fourways CBD lies a highly significant gem from another era... an old house that once belonged to the Van der Walt brothers who farmed watermelons in the area. Further research is needed to establish the exact age of the property but it appears as though it dates from the late 19th century which would very likely make it the oldest house in Fourways. In 1935, Ernst and Ethel Eriksen of Norscot Manor fame visited the farm and decided it was the perfect setting for their new home. Below are a few excerpts about the 'Van der Walt Cottage' taken from research on the area conducted by Avril Reid in the late 1990s. Recent photos were taken by The Heritage Portal team. Thank you to the current owner Jim Morris and his partner Henrietta for showing us around.
It was in 1935 when the Eriksen's had first seen the land to the north of Johannesburg, and Ethel Eriksen decided there and then that “this is where I want to build my home“. She had been captivated by the glorious open view to the north, with the land sloping away towards the Magaliesburg Mountains, and by the superb sunset.
The very next day Ernst Eriksen set out to find out more about the land, and it was then that he met the van der Walt brothers. The land was part of the original farm of Witkoppen which had been proclaimed as long ago as 1856 and granted to Van Vuuren. By the 1900s much of the original farm land had been in...
