Place in Gauteng, South Africa
Bedfordview
is an affluent suburb in western
Ekurhuleni
, sharing an administrative boundary with the
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality
,
Gauteng
,
South Africa
. Bedfordview has been part of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since 2000. The
Eastgate Shopping Centre
, one of the biggest in Africa when first built, is also located here.
History
[
edit
]
The site of Bedfordview was largely taken up by the farm
Elandsfontein
, created in 1853 by Gerhardus van der Linden and was administered as part of the District of
Potchefstroom
in the
South African Republic
.
[2]
The coat-of-arms of Bedfordview features an Eland holding a fountain as a tribute to the early
rural history
of the town.
The
Witwatersrand
Gold Reef had a huge impact on the area.
Elandsfontein
was purchased for the mineral rights, and was later divided into smaller farms and small-holdings, many of which were settled by retired miners.
[3]
The entire area became known as Geldenhuis Estates Smallholdings.
[3]
One of these farms was owned by Sir
George Herbert Farrar
, a
randlord
who played a prominent role in planning the infamous
Jameson Raid
, one of the main causes of the Second
Anglo-Boer War
. His farm, Bedford, purchased in 1893,
[2]
was located in the present-day suburb of St Andrews, and parts of the original farm can still be seen in St Andrews' School. The farm itself was named after Sir Farrar's home-town of
Bedford
in England.
[3]
Apparently the raid itself was planned in a small house close to the farm. Sir George is buried on Milner Ave, close to the school, the only official grave in the town.
British cavalry was based in Bedfordview during the war and apparently planted the oak trees along Van Buuren Ave. There is also a legend that an Indian Rajah-based with the unit died and was buried somewhere in Bedfordview in full regalia, including his jewel-encrusted sword.
The name "Bedfordview" came about as the result of a competition. A young lady, Daisy Dollery, won the competition and thought there was a nice view from Bedford Farm. "Bedford View" (two words) was then registered. Over the years the name has contracted to one word. On 24 February 1926, the suburb officially obtained its name.
[3]
By 1932 the small-holding had developed into a small village. The 1st Bedfordview Scout Troop opened its doors on 26 July 1928, and there was a government school and a post office. However, there were major health concerns. Bill Stewart, the headmaster at the school, recalled that sewage would run down Van Buuren Road from Malvern East and that the piggeries and other farms caused swarms of flies. There was talk that the area should become part of a municipality in order to deal with the matter, and residents were asked whether they would prefer to join
Johannesburg
or
Germiston
. Joining a municipality would mean rates and taxes though, so the residents elected instead to set up a health committee to sort out the problem. This later developed into the Bedfordview Village Council and then the Bedfordview Town Council.
Bedfordview was joined with
Germiston
and
Palm Ridge
to form the Transitional Council of Greater Germiston, after the institutition of democracy. This was in turn merged with other East Rand towns to form the City of
Ekurhuleni
, which incorporated the old municipalities of
Alberton
, Bedfordview,
Benoni
,
Boksburg
,
Brakpan
,
Edenvale
, Germiston,
Kempton Park
,
Nigel
, and
Springs
.
Listings
[
edit
]
The site
Bedfordview.co.za
is a dedicated listing for business, malls, shops, jobs and property in the Bedfordview area.
Economy
[
edit
]
TAAG Angola Airlines
has an office in Bedfordview.
[4]
Murray and Roberts
has its head office in Bedfordview."
[1]
Securities and Trading Technology (STT)
has its head office in Bedfordview."
[2]
Mochachos
has its head office in Bedfordview."
[3]
Suburbs
[
edit
]
The following suburbs form part of Bedfordview:
- Bedford Gardens
- Bedford Park
- Essexwold
- Morninghill
- Oriel
- Senderwood (ex Johannesburg)
- St Andrews
- Malvern
East Ext 1,3,7,9 (ex Germiston)
Malls
[
edit
]
Schools
[
edit
]
Transport
[
edit
]
Bedfordview is located at the interchange between the N3, N12 and R24 highways named the George Bizos Interchange (previously Gilooly’s Interchange). The
N3
connects
Germiston
and
Durban
to the south with
Sandton
and
Pretoria
to the north; the
N12
connects
Boksburg
and
eMalahleni
to the east with
Kimberley
to the west; and the
R24
connects
Johannesburg
to the west with
Edenvale
and
Kempton Park
(including
O.R. Tambo International Airport
) to the north-east.
The main route through the Bedfordview
central business district
(CBD) is Van Buuren Road (
M52
) which connects Bedfordview to the neighbouring suburbs of Wilbart and Wychwood.
Notable residents
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
|
---|
|
|
Cityscape
|
---|
Landmarks
| Public art
|
|
---|
Civic
buildings
| |
---|
Office
buildings
|
|
---|
Residential
buildings
|
|
---|
Structures
| |
---|
|
---|
Urban planning
| |
---|
|
|
|
Politics
|
---|
Governing parties
| |
---|
Political organisations
and parties based in
Greater Johannesburg
| Political parties
| |
---|
Trade unions
| |
---|
Other political
organisations
| |
---|
|
---|
|
|
|
---|
Fortifications
| |
---|
Monuments
and memorials
| |
---|
Cemeteries
| |
---|
Historical
sites
|
|
---|
Historical
companies and
organisations
| Companies
| |
---|
Political
organisations
| |
---|
Other organisations
| |
---|
|
---|
Events
| |
---|
|
|
|
---|
Cultural heritage
| |
---|
Performance art
| Musical ensembles
| |
---|
Theatres
| |
---|
|
---|
Events and festivals
| |
---|
Museums and art
galleries
|
|
---|
Clubs and societies
| |
---|
|
|
|
---|
- SACC
- Anglican
- Catholic
- Protestant
- Jewish
- Islamic
Places of
worship
| Churches
| |
---|
Synagogues
| |
---|
Mosques
| |
---|
Hindu temples
| |
---|
Scientology centres
| |
---|
|
---|
|
|
|
---|
Mass media
| Magazines
|
|
---|
Newspapers
|
|
---|
Radio stations
| |
---|
Television channels
|
|
---|
Film studios
|
|
---|
Record labels
| |
---|
Game studios
| |
---|
|
---|
Cultural references
| |
---|
|
|
|
---|
Companies
| |
---|
Diversified
conglomerates
| |
---|
Airlines
|
|
---|
Construction
and engineering
| |
---|
Energy
| |
---|
Financial
|
|
---|
Hospitality
| |
---|
ICT
| |
---|
Legal
| |
---|
Manufacturing
| |
---|
Media
| |
---|
Mining
| |
---|
Retail and
marketing
| |
---|
Restaurant
franchises
| |
---|
Services
| |
---|
Transport
| |
---|
State-owned
enterprises
| |
---|
|
|
---|
Professional
associations
| |
---|
Mining
|
|
---|
Shopping centres
| |
---|
Hotels and resorts
| |
---|
Venues
| |
---|
Restaurants,
bars and cafes
| |
---|
Tourism
|
|
---|
|
|
|
|
---|
Sports governing
bodies based in
Greater Johannesburg
| |
---|
Teams
| Soccer
|
|
---|
Rugby
| |
---|
Cricket
| |
---|
Basketball
| |
---|
|
---|
Equestrian sports
| |
---|
Sports events
| |
---|
Sports venues
| Stadia and
arenas
|
|
---|
Golf courses
| |
---|
Equestrian
venues
| |
---|
Motorsports
venues
|
|
---|
|
---|
|
|
|
---|
Libraries
| |
---|
Universities
| |
---|
Other tertiary
institutions
| Business schools
| |
---|
Religious institutions
| |
---|
|
---|
State schools
| |
---|
Private schools
| |
---|
Alternative schools
| |
---|
International schools
| |
---|
|
|
Services
|
---|
Hospitals
|
|
---|
Water supply
and sanitation
|
|
---|
Electricity supply
|
|
---|
Law enforcement and
emergency services
| |
---|
Charities and NGOs
| |
---|
|
|
Military units and formations
|
---|
|
|
|
|
---|
|
Places in Ekurhuleni
| | Ekurhuleni within South Africa
|
---|
Suburbs of Kempton Park
| |
---|
|
---|
International
| |
---|
National
| |
---|
Geographic
| |
---|