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Trendy market gives new lease of life to historic Joburg mining warehouses

6th February 2015

By: Jade Davenport

Creamer Media Correspondent

  

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Johannesburg is, and has been, many things but ‘historically sentimental’ is not one of them. From its very establishment, the quintessential city of gold was a dynamic, constantly evolving urban settlement entirely fixated on industrial progress and wealth creation. Indeed, for the most part, the attitude of the pioneers and the many generations that have inhabited the city has been: Why waste valuable time and effort preserving the history and heritage of the city when there is gold to be mined and money to be made?

If you think this is an overly harsh description of Joburgers’ attitude to their city, it should be pointed out that, at the establishment of the village back in October 1886, had a pioneer taken a brief respite from the absolute fixation on gold mining and lust for profit and accurately recorded Johannesburg’s founding history, we might know, for certain, for which ‘Johannes’ the settlement was actually named.

Having said that, for the past few years, there have been signs that the attitude and, dare one say, pride of the city’s residents to its heritage, at least as far as the preservation and reuse of historical buildings are concerned, are taking a step in a positive direction.

One need only look at the revamping of the Maboneng precinct, in the neighbourhood of Jeppestown, as a prime example of such urban renewal and the reuse of once prime industrial complexes.

The latest in this spate of urban industrial renewal, and one that is of particular relevance to this column, is The Sheds, at 1 Fox street. Located on the western limits of the city, The Sheds comprises an entire block of warehouses that were historically used for mining and industrial purposes, which have now been refurbished to create a marketplace, showcasing local goods and artisanal food and produce, surrounded by trendy eateries and bars.

What is of particular interest is the fact that The Sheds is believed to be one of Johannesburg’s oldest industrial structures. According to The Shed’s website, while most of the buildings on site date from the 1920s and 1940s, the centre part of the main warehouse is possibly the oldest industrial structure in the entire city, as oregon pine posts and trusses suggest that this part was built before the South African War of 1899 to 1902.

It is understood that the original shed was constructed in 1893 by Hubert Davies – the most renowned South African electrical engineer of the day and a man who played a central role in developing the city’s power infrastructure and industrial capabilities – for storing wares for the gold mines located along the Main Reef, just a few kilometres to the south.

The warehouses are not only some of the oldest structures in the city, but they are also located in the oldest, most original area of Johannesburg – Ferreirastown, originally known as Ferreira’s Camp.

One will recall that, following George Walker and George Harrison’s era-changing discovery of gold on the farm Langlaagte in February 1886, prospectors began flocking to the Witwatersrand in droves to try their luck. One of the first to arrive was Colonel Ignatius Philip Ferreira, a veteran prospector and one of the most renowned gold diggers in South Africa. When he arrived in April of that year, he outspanned on the farm Turffontein, not far from the site of the original discovery.

Because of his respected reputation, many of the younger prospectors, lacking experience and leadership, set up their own little campsites in the vicinity of Ferreira’s own makeshift lodgings and tactically accepted his authority by referring to the settlement as Ferreira’s Camp. And thus began the first settlement of Johannesburg.

The site of the mining warehouses is also believed to be the location of one of the city’s original bars: a liquor licence was granted for Ferreira’s Bar on this site in 1893 and for Good Luck Bar in 1895.

In deference to this special piece of urban history, Good Luck Bar has been re-established within The Sheds, close to its original site. However, this trendy new watering hole will be far different in character and appearance to the original rough and ready saloon of 120 years ago. Nonetheless, it is a very nice touch.

It is understood that the warehouses, being conveniently located, were used by mining companies for over a century, with the most recent occupant being Anglo American Corporation. However, according to The Shed’s website, during the last decade, most of the buildings at 1 Fox street stood vacant, awaiting redevelopment as office space. That was until two local entrepreneurs, Jan Roode and Gerald Garner, saw the potential of the buildings owned by private property developer the Johannesburg Land Company (JLC). In 2014, through their company, JoburgPlaces, they signed a long-term lease with JLC as part of their initiative to reimagine the old warehouses. Indeed, JoburgPlaces has done a superb job in refurbishing and giving a new lease on life to these quintessentially historic buildings.

Located close to the confluence of the M1 and M2 highways, just off the Selby offramp into town, and a short distance south of the Nelson Mandela Bridge, The Sheds@1Fox is accessible from all corners of Johannesburg and is proving to be a popular new attraction for locals. It is open Thursday to Sunday every week and plans for a Phase 2 of the project, which will include permanent retail, production and entertainment spaces in the surrounding buildings, are in place.

Kudos should be given for this initiative of preserving an aspect of the city’s inherent history that might otherwise crumble into oblivion.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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