Windybrow is the last remnant of fashionable Doornfontein, once the poshest suburb in Johannesburg and home to its most illustrious citizens, including the Ecksteins, Sir George Albu, Cecil John Rhodes and John Hays Hammond (later Vice-President of the USA).  Designed in 1896 by William Leck for Theodore Reunert, founder of the engineering firm of Reunert and Lenz, it was named after the home of Lake District poet Robert Southey. Its architecture is eclectically Victorian: a mock Tudor exterior seemingly at odds with Anglo-Moorish interiors - ingle fireplaces, lustre tiles, oriental carpets, saddlebag chairs and canopied beds.

In the 25 years that the Reunerts lived there, Doornfontein was gradually eclipsed by Parktown and soon fell into a shabby gentility. By 1945 Windybrow was being used as part of the BG Alexander Nursing College, and in the 1980s it was transformed into a theatre. The last 20 years have not been kind to Doornfontein and Windybrow, but because of its architectural and cultural significance, the Windybrow Theatre is again in the process of regeneration and is planned to become the focal point of a new cultural precinct, sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture. Three buildings adjacent to the theatre will be revamped and several streets around the theatre will become pedestrian walkways. Once completed, the Windybrow Theatre will become even more of an asset to this historic corner of Johannesburg.

We are privileged to host an exclusive guided tour of this work in progress, led by the Market Theatre’s Christine McDonald.

GUIDES: Christine McDonald and Brett McDougall

PARK: Windybrow, Pietersen Street, Doornfontein

TIME: 4h00

DURATION: 2 hours

COST: R80.00 for members and R130.00 for non-members

MAXIMUM No: 40

CONTACT: mail@joburgheritage.co.za