WE VISIT THE FAMOUS LINDFIELD VICTORIAN HOUSE MUSEUM ON HERITAGE DAY

Prepare yourself for a totally unique 1,5 – 2-hour experience in the heart of one of Johannesburg’s oldest, historically significant leafy suburbs, Auckland Park. Guaranteed a fascinating insight into Victorian life.

The Lindfield Victorian House Museum is a true living museum, preserved as it would have been in the Victorian era. As such, it is a Provincial Heritage Site, well visited by thousands of local and international visitors every year. The current live-in owner is Katharine Love, whose family owned the house since 1967.

The stories that lived (and still live) within the walls of the Lindfield Victorian House Museum tell a tale of Johannesburg during an era that, perhaps more than any other, shaped urban Johannesburg today: the day-to-day family life and fashion trends, masters and servants, high culture and intellectual achievements. The spirit of this era lives on in the Museum and visitors not only learn about its cultural history, but also experience the Victorian elegance of yesteryear.

Originally called Grey Roofs, the original small cottage was designed by Herbert Baker who dominated the architectural scene in South Africa from his arrival in the Cape in 1892 until his return to England in 1912. The house was originally built, in 1910, for Dr. St John Stanwell and his wife Alice. In 1924, A.J. Marshall, Sir Baker's Clerk of Works, made changes to the house. Thereafter, in 1933, Nellie Edwards, Johannesburg's first female architect and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, added additional rooms.

Katharine's maternal grandmother, a retired school teacher, originally bought the present house and Katharine and her mother, Katharine McGill Love (nee Viljoen), moved into the 22-room house during 1967. Interestingly, Katharine was born only a block away. Her father, Aubrey Clarence Love, died in 1968, and her mother in 1996. When her mother passed away, Katherine opened the house as a Victorian museum, proudly displaying a vast collection of 19th and 20th century furniture and art, as well as a vast collection of decorative and utilitarian objects representative of both the Victorian and Edwardian periods. 18 of the original 22 rooms are open to the public, including all the principal Reception rooms, the ladies' drawing room, gentleman's library and music room, as well as the formal dining room, bedrooms, children's dining room and nursery, bathrooms, pantry and kitchen.

SOME HISTORY OF THE AREA:
Auckland Park was proclaimed in 1888 and developed by a New Zealander, John Landau. He saw great similarities to the countryside near his New Zealand home town, Auckland - hence the suburb name.
Auckland Park housed some of Johannesburg's first professional residents. At the turn of the 20th century, Auckland Park was literally ‘in the country’ relative to the Johannesburg city centre. Victorian gentry who had made South Africa their home would have had weekend get-aways in the area. The original site offered a boating lake and hotel, located where the Johannesburg Country Club is today. There was also a horse-racing track, where the University of Johannesburg (formerly RAU) is situated today.

Anna Smith, in a publication 'Johannesburg Street Names' informs us that the suburb was always known for its bluegum trees, planted by J H Hardy in 1888, when he built the first house here. Some of the offspring of those bluegums, alongside some London plane trees, can still be seen today. In Richmond Avenue a venerable oak tree stands, planted from an acorn by Bill Wilson, whose father brought back the seed from Delville Wood after his service period there in WW1.

During the tour photography with cameras, mobile phones or tablets is permitted as long as the photos are for personal or academic, non-commercial use. Professional filming, video recording and photo-shoots can be discussed with Katharine. The venue has been used for a number of feature films and music videos over the years.

Take in a 2-minute sneak preview video to whet your appetite for this tour!: https://lindfield.wixsite.com/museum/sneak-preview

On completion of the tour, we will be able to browse the wonderful collection of curiosities and collectables on sale in the on-site shop, The Lindfield Emporium. This is a Victorian-styled department store where we can buy interesting bric-a-brac, books, stamps and other fascinating collectibles to keep as souvenirs of this memorable event.

There is also a Victorian photographic studio with an authentic hand-painted historical backdrop where we can take free photos with our own phones, as further memories of our visit.

TOUR ARRANGEMENTS:
Space is limited, so the first 12 respondents will receive payment details. FIRST-PAID, FIRST-ACCOMMODATED. Please consult your diaries carefully, as there will be no after-RSVP refund admin!

Cost: R 100.00 per person.

After the tour, those interested can join us for lunch at an interesting place in the area that we haven’t visited yet!

72 Richmond Avenue, Aucklandpark.

Tel: 011 726 2932 / 083 589 8668