SANDTON
Adjoining Johannesburg it was established as a separate municipality in July 1969. The name is derived from Sandown and Bryanston.
Esterhuysen Monument
Esterhuysen Monument, 19 Adrienne St Morningside – Sandton’s first monument dedicated to the Esterhuysen Family. Close to are the graves of Voortrekkers Jan Christoffel Esterhuysen and his wife Maria Magdalena. Jan,s mother was the sister of Andries Pretorius, the Voortrekker leaderThey settled here at their farm Zandfontein in 1836. Now part of the Sandton Municipality.
The little Church in the Pines
The little Church in the Pines – Stella Rd Sandown – Three daughters of Sytze Wierda lived in Sandown and thought of a church. Land was donated by Mr Obermeyer, Wierda’s son-in-law. The cornerstone was laid by CF Obermeijer on 11 July 1925. The builder was MCA Meischke.
Wilhelmi House
Wilhelmi House (Driefontein farmhouse), Cnr 13th St & Coloraine St Parkmore – Built in 1906 by Adolf Wilhelmi who with his wife Elsa arrived from Germany in 1891. They supplied the mining town of Johannesburg with fresh farm produce. Adolf and his son-in-law Max Weber (married to Freya Wilhelmi) fought with Genl De la Rey in the ABW. Some of the family’s tombstones lie close to the house.
Panners Lane
Panners Lane – Cnr Panners Lane & Coloraine Rd River Club – In 1853 prospector Pieter Jacobus Marais panned for gold in the Braamfontein Spruit. He found traces of alluvial gold. This was one of the first gold discoveries on the Witwatersrand, Three decades before the reef discoveries. He also found traces near the confluence of the Jukskei and Crocodile rivers.
Lilliesleaf Farm
Lilliesleaf Farm, Cnr Winston & George Rd, Rivonia – This house was bought as a hideout for the ANC in July 1961. At the time this was a farming area. Top ANC members met here in a thatched cottage. On 11 July 1963 the police raided the premises. Six men were arrested in the cottage and one in the main house. Evidence were found in the house which lead to the conviction of the ANC leaders at the Rivonia Trail. Nelson Mandela spent time here but was not on the property at the time of the raid.
