ATTENTION HISTORY TEACHERS-GRADES 3-7!
We offer three school tours on the heritage of our city. Our tour guides would love to take your
children on one or more of these exciting and different tours.
TOUR 1
NOW AND THEN-AN EDWARDIAN SCHOOL DAY
Bring your children (Grades 3-5) out of the classroom and into our educational time
machine for 3 hours! The school experience takes place At Holy Family College, 40
Oxford Road, Parktown.
Travel back 100 years and join us for a morning in a beautiful Edwardian school in
Parktown, Johannesburg. Learn about the discovery and mining of gold, the lifeblood of
our city Egoli. Slip pinafores and sailor suits over contemporary uniforms and have a History and English lesson in a
1905 attic classroom, complete with inkwells, dip pens, reading charts, dunce’s caps and cursive writing! Touch and be
touched by magnificent architecture and interiors. Have explained and experience the rationale behind the school’s
turning circle at a time where transport was primarily by carriage or donkey- cart. Cement the day into personal history
by decorating and threading a take-home folder for the worksheets.
TOUR 2
ARTS AND CRAFTS HERITAGE IN EARLY JOHANNESBURG
Grade 6’s and 7’s will enjoy
this varied 3 hour
educational tour which visits
The View, Hazeldene Hall
and The National Children’s
Theatre.
Experience a tour with a difference where we examine the various arts and crafts which form part of our city’s
heritage. At The View and Hazeldene Hall we shall see wonderful examples of these. During this part of the tour we
also discuss the heritage home of diamond magnate Thomas Cullinan, and the discovery of the Cullinan diamond.
Next door lived his friend Charles Jerome whose interests lay in the development of coal mining. Both these stories
and elegant houses recall a fascinating insight into our past history. As The View is now home to The Transvaal
Scottish Regiment, we will also see some memorabilia from World War 1 and 2.To end our tour we take a short stroll to
The National Children’s Theatre. Here the children will learn about the different aspects of working in a theatre and
may have a chance to watch actors at work.
TOUR 3
THE HERBERT BAKER WALK
Join us on an educational 3 hour Parktown meander aimed at Grade 6’s and 7’s
This action packed walk begins at the mansion, Northwards, once home to the
charismatic Josie Dale Lace and subsequently the legendary Albu family. This
Herbert Baker mansion with its exquisite period furnishings provides a backdrop for
romantic and captivating tales. It also explains just how large a staff was necessary to
maintain the home and the lifestyle. The enchanting gardens offer a seldom seen
panorama of Johannesburg!
Learners then wend their way down Rockridge Road, a Jacaranda lined showcase of
Sir Herbert Baker’s architectural talents and passion for South Africa. They will hear
of the Anglo-Boer South African War, some of its personalities and the beautiful
Baker homes they lived in, including Baker’s own home, The Sonehouse with its
hallmark shingled roof. The tour is completed by the humble majesty of St George’s
Church, where the children will hear the tale of St George and the dragon, be awed by the magnificent pipe organ, and
on seeing the Belfry and the ropes will delight in hearing that bell ringing is indeed still in fashion in Parktown on
Sundays and special occasions!
The tour is tribute to craftsmanship and the work of man’s hands which Baker homes exemplify.
FOR ALL 3 TOURS
Learners must please bring:
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a pencil so that they can complete the worksheets which are
provided
a small packed lunch and something to drink
a plastic bag or rucksack as the children need to carry their own
belongings
CONTACT:
EIRA BOND
011 482 3349 (Heritage Foundation Office from 9.00am-1.00pm weekdays)
e-mail:
mail @ joburgheritage.co.za