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7 Best Historic Homes in Johannesburg That Are Must-Visits for History Buffs
With a rich history that spans centuries, Joburg has a great deal of heritage littered throughout its streets. From museums to memorials and statues, the city’s past and evolution through wars, civil unrest, and social progress shine through every building.
I find that when I want to have a more intimate experience of Jozi’s yesteryears, a great way to get a glimpse of that is through the city’s many historic homes. I have a friend who’s visited the city for his PhD in history, and I took him through some of these historic homes.
On that trip, I found some truly remarkable historic homes and heritage sites. Whether you’re a history buff or an events organiser, here are some of the best historic homes in the city.
Lindfield Victorian House Museum
Media from: @ulrichjvv
Address: 72 Richmond Ave, Auckland Park
Phone: +27 11 726 2932
Price: $
The Lindfield Victoria House Museum is a time capsule of Johannesburg right after the gold rush and British occupation. Designed by the legendary Sir Herbert Baker, this house museum offers a guided tour through a typical Joburg home during the early 1900s.
The Lindfield House is notable for its Victorian-era architectural style, which was prominent around the city during the early 1900s. The tour, led by the home’s welcoming owner, Katherine Love, is a deeply personal look through her family’s stories and memories.
Katherine, who totally dedicated herself to preserving her family and her home’s legacy, gave us a thorough, emotional tour through the many rooms. The stories she told of her family during the many tumultuous periods of South African history gave us a newfound understanding and appreciation for the progress we’ve made as a country.
| Pro tip: If you ask for it during booking, Katherine could also have you try on some old Victorian clothing at the house! |
Northwards House
Media from: @microadventuretours
Website: https://microadventuretours.co.za/product/northwards-house-tour
Address: 21 Rockridge Rd, Parktown
Price: $
The Northwards House stands as one of the oldest and most luxurious mansions in Johannesburg. Originally owned by Randlord John Dale Lace and his wife, Josephine (a notorious socialite), it remains as a lasting reminder of the city’s heritage, for better or worse.
To this day, the Northwards House is a stunning display of opulence with its 52 rooms and stunning Victorian architecture, courtesy of Sir Herbert Baker. Attending a guided tour of the house also reveals the sheer extent of debauchery and opulence that had taken place within the halls, especially from the owners.
When I took a tour of Northwards with my friend, the tour guides told wild stories of the parties, fights, and displays of wealth that the Dale Lace family had gotten up to. While they were amusing stories, they were also sobering reminders of the wealth disparity and racialised poverty that plagued Johannesburg during that time.
| Pro tip: While the mansion’s interior is breathtaking, be sure to check out the garden and veranda too. The views overlooking the city are stunning! |
Glenshiel
Media from: @glenshielvenue
Website: https://www.glenshiel.org.za/
Address: 19 Woolston Rd, Westcliff
Phone: +27 11 646 5520
Price: $$
Glenshiel is one of the more notable historic homes in Johannesburg for its unique H-shaped architecture, its history as a nest for social butterflies, and its current use today. This home now serves both as an events venue and as the headquarters of the Order of St. John, a non-profit organisation that focuses on first aid.
This home was first owned by mining magnate Sir William Dalrymple and his wife, Lady Isabel, and they gained fame for hosting lavish parties and sponsoring charity programs. How appropriate, then, that their home still functions as a renowned events place today!
I first got to visit Glenshiel when I was volunteering at the Order of St. John, and it was mesmerising seeing how vast the 7-acre garden was. I also got to join a tour with my friend another time, and hearing stories of the people who have visited this house was incredible.
| Pro tip: Glenshiel hosts the Glenshiel Fair, an annual outdoor night market and event every October. Give it a visit when you’re in the mood for artisanal food, handcrafted bags, and other goodies! |
Hazeldene Hall
Media from: @egoneutron
Address: 22 Ridge Rd, Parktown
Phone: +27 11 482 3349
Price: $$
Built in 1902, Hazeldene Hall is part of the historic Parktown Mansions and was built as a house for Charles Jerome, Joburg’s former “King of Coal” and the founder of the Boksburg mines. It’s notable for its symmetry and the double-story veranda, which was imported from New Orleans.
Today, Hazeldene Hall serves as a home museum and events place nestled in the middle of Parktown, surrounded by many other notable historical landmarks. Companies often host retreats, seminars, and training events at the home because of its convenient location and large, spacious interior.
I visited Hazeldene Hall as part of a guided tour along Parktown’s most notable historic homes, and I found it to stand out the most. It was simply a gorgeous, timeless house that exemplified a lot of the key factors of Victorian architecture.
| Pro tip: The staff at Hazeldene Hall are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the house, and you can get into some really profound conversations with them if you have the time. |
Chancellor House
Media from: @ahwoods1980
Website: https://www.southafrica.net/
Address: Fox St, Ferreiras Dorp
Price: $
While it’s not a home per se, any lawyer worth their salt will tell you that their law offices are basically a second home. This is especially true for Chancellor House, a Victorian apartment complex best known for being the home of Mandela & Tambo, the first-ever Black-owned and operated legal service in South Africa.
Headed by former President Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, this is where both then-attorneys worked tirelessly through apartheid to protect the rights of Black South Africans and help those accused of crimes. It has since been rehabilitated into a heritage site that hosts a freedom struggle museum and is a crucial visit for any visitor to Johannesburg.
I visited the museum inside the Chancellor House, and learning more about how much Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement fought for equal rights was a compelling experience.
| Pro tip: To learn about South Africa’s history even further, consider taking a visit to the Apartheid Museum, which is only a few minutes away along Gold Reef Road. |
The Stonehouse
Address: 5 Rockridge Rd, Parktown
Phone: +27 11 482 3349
Price: $
The Stonehouse was built in 1902, before the end of the Anglo-Boer War and was the home of Sir Patrick Duncan, the first-ever South African governor-general. Today, it stands as a heritage site with a bustling events space within the premises.
The Stonehouse was designed by Sir Herbert Baker to reflect a more permanent, lasting order of architecture in Johannesburg. This is reflected by its predominant use of natural materials, namely the koppie stone of Witwatersrand.
When I visited the Stonehouse with my friend, we were greeted by its custodian and told stories of how the governor general would assemble some of the most important political minds in South Africa in the very rooms we stood in. It was a fascinating time, and you could really feel the use of natural materials in how breezy and refreshing it felt being inside!
| Pro tip: The Stonehouse is a great events space for birthdays, bachelor parties, and corporate gatherings. |
The Pines
Media from: @gass_architecture_studios
Address: Gordon Hill, Parktown
Phone: +27 11 486 2424
Price: $
The Pines stands out as a beautiful heritage home and a tranquil space in the middle of Parktown. It was originally built in 1906 for the Fraser and Chalmers mining firm and uses a unique Johannesburg Edwardian style that prioritises natural light and bold, effacing facades.
The gardens at The Pines are also gorgeous, being incredibly well-kept and having outdoor areas for snacks, picnics, or even just sitting down and enjoying the view. The tours held at the home are also interesting, with tour guides providing the rich, narrative history of the home’s many different owners.
To end off my week-long trip through historic homes with my friend, we stopped by The Pines for a tour of the house and a quick picnic on the grounds. It was a really nice, relaxing time both inside the house with its natural ventilation and outside in the beautiful garden.
| Pro tip: The home’s keepers and managers are particularly strict about the rules, most notably littering and climbing on the walls, so refrain from doing so while you’re there! |
