From farm to valuable place of heritage
EMMARENTIA – The Emmarentia Dam is known and loved by many nature lovers, but about the history little is known.
The Emmarentia Dam and Joburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia attract many eager nature lovers and canoeists hoping to escape the hustle an bustle of the big city. The history of the origins of the dam is a rich one.
According to Jenny Moodley, spokesperson of Joburg City Parks and Zoo, the history of the dam dates back to 1886. Two brothers, Lourens (Louw) and Frans Geldenhuys bought the farm, Braamfontein, in 1886 in the hopes to find gold, but used it exclusively for farming.
After the Anglo-Boer War in 1902, many people had no financial income. Moodley stated that Geldenhuys contracted these people to build a dam on the farm. Ward 88 Councillor, Pat Richards said that the dam was named after Lourens’s wife, Emmarentia. She said further that the street bordering the dam is named after the owner, Lourens Geldenhuys Drive. Geldenhuys had two purposes with the dam, providing work for people and to supply water for farmers. It is believed that the dam cost about 12 000 pounds at the time to build. According to Councillor Richards, the original farm house that belonged to Frans, and the farm’s graveyard are still at the dam. The farm house is the clubhouse of Marks Park Sports Club.
Richards said that the dam and the botanical gardens were donated to the City of Joburg by the family.
Details: Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, 011 712 6600.
