Did you know that one of Roodepoort’s suburbs was once recognised as a beauty spot?
Wondering which one it might be? Read on to find the answer.
The Roodepoort region prides itself on having some of the most attractive residential areas offering spectacular views with its rolling hills. Of these suburbs, Florida is probably the most well-known.
According to the Roodepoort Museum’s archives, Florida was recognised as beauty spot in 1887, and in 1948 the magazine, AFRICA, described it as ‘quite the prettiest township in the whole of the Golden Reef.’
The Bantjes General Mine Company purchased Florida on 31 March 1896.
There is a lot of speculation about the name ‘Florida’. Some people say it was named after the American State, while others say it was named for the founder, Hendrik van der Hoven’s four-year-old niece, who died just before the township was laid out.
Although no record can be found, it is also alleged that it was named after his daughter (Florrie) who drowned in Florida’s lake.
There are also suggestions that the area might be named after his wife, but the estate records show that neither of his two wives was named Florence or Florrie.
The most credible explanation is found in a letter sent to the editor of the weekly West Rand Times in 1976. This letter stated that William Henry Auret, a land surveyor, was so impressed by the blooming wild flowers in the valley that he decided on the Spanish word, Florida.
The necessity for a water source became apparent with the increasing mining population and activities. So, in 1889 the government decided to dam up the spruit running through the Bantjes mine property. A dam wall was raised in 1909 and the resultant dam became Florida Lake.
The Council of Roodepoort negotiated an agreement with the Bantjes Mine Company on 26 May 1909, enabling free use of the lake and its surrounds, with the intention of laying out parks and recreation facilities.They added tennis courts, a bowling green and what they described as a ‘bath enclosure’.
In later years, water polo became popular, and some of the Transvaal swimming championships were held there too.
Amenities were added on a regular basis to transform the lake into a attractive resort area. The council bought some of the cottages and buildings on the shore from Bantjies. One building was hired out to the Scout Association as a permanent training camp and was named ‘Gilwell’. The other building was used by the council as a hotel, and became known as the Medina Hotel.
Florida Lake and its Township were bought in 1925 by the council for the princely sum of £8 000 and the area was visited by the Prince of Wales in the same year. To coincide with this visit, the first mayoral chains were commissioned.
Twelve swans from the Royal Swannery in Cookham-on-Thames were presented to the Florida Lake Municipality by King George V during his visit in 1935.
The lake gradually gained popularity and became a much-loved fishing spot. In 1929, a 19kg carp, only 300g short of a world record, was caught in the lake. The fisherman, FC Nutley, claimed that there was a 30kg carp in the lake. His claim was confirmed by many other anglers. This fish was widely known as Adolphus. In 1934, the Rand Piscatorial Association held a competition, offering £100 to the person who captured Adolphus, but it seems that he was a very wise old fish. Not only did he elude the more than 300 fishermen trying to reel him in – none of them caught a single fish that day!
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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