Brackendowns residents fight to keep heritage site alive
The very first farm house built in Brackendowns is falling apart despite being declared an official heritage site in 2011.
THE old Farm House situated at 8 Pongola Street has been a bone of contention to many residents for some time now.
It was the first house built in the Brackendowns area and declared a provincial heritage site in the Provincial Gazette Extraordinary Heritage Site on July 13, 2011.
However, today the house is in a state of total disrepair with overgrown grass, an unkempt garden, and vagrants have illegally occupied the house.
It was sold on auction in 2007 before it was declared a heritage site which now protects it in terms of section 24(1) of the National Heritage Resources Act, No 25 of 1997.
According to Ward 38 Clr Malcolm Maifala, the farm house owner was served with a notice on June 6.
“The owner was served with a notice to pay the outstanding bills he owes to the council,” said Maifla.
“The owner owes a huge, undisclosed amount of money to the council.
“With the amount owed to the council, the property can be repossessed and will then fall under the council, and since it’s a heritage site the council can take over so that it will not be demolished,” added Maifala.
Residents who have been involved in the fight to keep the farm house, told the RECORD that this is the first time in 14 years they have been called to a meeting.
“We have been fighting for the upkeep and preservation of this house for over a decade. As residents we are concerned about the state of the property because it carries the history of our area and it seems as though no one is willing to step in,” a resident said.
Beverly Small from Alberton Heritage Society told the RECORD that the owner(s) of the Farm House must be called to order because they are neglecting the house so that it can fall into ruins to a point of total despair.
“They are neglecting the property so that they can demolish it to develop a townhouse complex, and that will never be allowed because it’s a protected heritage site,” said Small.
“If this house gets demolished, people of Alberton will lose the sense of belonging and they will have nothing to look back to as the community, especially the Brackendowns community.”
To date the Alberton Heritage Society has not made any official proposals of what they have in mind for the preservation of the house.
The ward councillor believes that the property has the potential of being a place where residents can learn a bit about the history of the area and its heritage.
“I will be driving for the conservation to be first-owned by the council,” said Maifala.
He initiated talks with the Environmental Health Department so that they may assist with the cleaning up of the property.
“It is important that council start taking the lead in ensuring that the heritage of Alberton is preserved. The house in itself offers an opportunity to become this area’s historical hub,” he added.
Maifala told the RECORD it was important to acknowledge that the first step, before submitting a motion to council, was to look at the feasibility of a number of things.
“One needs to look at how the house will be sustained afterwards. I have already started engaging with various officials within the council to get their expert advice on what they will think the council can implement,” he said.
The owner of the house has been contacted on numerous times via email, WhatsApp messages and phone calls. He only answered one call stating he would check his emails but never replied.
At the time of going to print the owner failed to acknowledge receipt of any inquiries nor has the owner forwarded any comments. The RECORD will publish the comment when it is received.
Did you know?
• In 1942, a descendant of the original owner sold a portion of the farm Palmietfontein to Samuel Potter, a publisher and company director of Irish descent.
• In 1947, work began on the farmhouse of what would later become known as “Southdowns”, a dairy farm run by Potter’s wife, Jessie.
• It was the first house built in the suburb of Brackendowns.
• It was originally painted pale pink.
• Inside the house there are two fireplaces.
• Large teak beams brings brilliance to the dining area and magnificent doors lead you into the house.
• The verandah roof is supported by cast-iron posts, which were bought from the original Carlton Centre when it was demolished in 1964.
• Brackendowns was declared a township in 1972 and the house was sold in 1979.
• In the late 1990s it was used as an old-age home.
• It is now a protected heritage site.
