Arcadia as a heritage and cultural site

By Claus Schutte*

Cultural Significance

Arcadia played an important part during the establishment of early Pretoria.

1853: MW Pretorius purchases the farms Elands Poort and Koedoespoort. Arcadia is in Elandspoort.

1865-04-07: Andries du Toit, one of the prominent founders of Pretoria, sells his farm Arcadia, including the hill on Arcadia to Stephanus Jacobus Meintjes, after whom Meintjeskop is named. Arcadia, was the first suburb to be incorporated into Pretoria in 1889, followed a year later by Sunnyside.

Upper Arcadia is situated between the impressive and world famous Union Buildings and Bryntirion, the Presidential and Ministerial Estate which are linked by the meandering Government Avenue boulevard, lined with wide sidewalks and a double row of Jacaranda trees with its flowery show in spring. The area is host to busloads of the overseas visitors enjoying our heritage and the opulently flowering Jacaranda trees.

Heritage Buildings and structures

The majority of residential buildings in Arcadia are dated more than 60 years old. Whereas many can be described as representative of the time before the Second World War, and not very significant on their own, they represent the character of early Pretoria development style. An abundance of styles of the period after the war are represented and add to the lively mix of the suburb. Residences built on the estates before the subdivisions into residential sites are regarded as highly significant.

The following examples highlight only a few of the 40 plus prominent residences of high cultural and stylistic significance:

• TW Beckett arrived in Pretoria in 1864, aged 13. He became a merchant and banker and started the TW Beckett Co. He hailed from Merton Abbey, Kent, England, and built the impressive Merton Keep in Eastwood Estate, which was only subdivided in 1925.
• Vrede Huis on the Union Building estate built by the Meintjes family and later occupied by Gen. Jan Smuts.
• 173 Beckett Street, a Neo Edwardian house.
• 732 Government, an Arts and Crafts style building which was used by Sir Herbert Baker as his site office.
• The example of Colonial Victorian architecture at Melvin Residence in 184 Pine Street.
• Clarendon Court in Eastwood Street, recently renovated to its former glory, is a unique example of English style suburban cluster development.

Arcadia has retained its prestigious character due to its proximity to the Union Buildings and Bryntirion Estates but also to the closeness to the University of Pretoria and the four excellent Boys and Girls High School, and also the many Embassies.

Street and Town Scape

Arcadia is not only of historical significance due to the founding fathers who bought the land and built their impressive mansions but also for the Garden City concept of the early 1900s, characterised by most houses oriented towards the streets. The interaction between houses, gardens and the street has unfortunately been lost to a large degree due to the high security walls. Palisade or mesh fencing are regarded as better solutions to high solid walls

The streets are lined with granite kerb stones which were hewn and laid by Italian Prisoners of War. The steepness of Blackwood Street (named after TW Beckett’s Australian home) with its red brick paving is a unique feature in Arcadia.

The major streets are lined with wide pavements and Jacarandas whereas the minor streets have narrower but adequate sidewalks, some without trees on the pavements. Vegetation on the erf boundaries formed by shrubs and trees add to the pleasant streetscapes.

*Claus Scutte is a Pretoria architect with a special interest in buildings of historic value. He was involved in the Conservation Management Plan of the Union Buildings and the application to upgrade the Presidential Residence, Mahlamba Ndlopfu, among many others. An article titled The Birth of the Union Buildings, written by Mr. Schutte, appeared in The Heritage Portal in March 2016.