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Newtown, Johannesburg

Coordinates: 26°12′14″S 28°02′02″E / 26.204°S 28.034°E / -26.204; 28.034
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Newtown
Newtown, with Nelson Mandela Bridge in the background
Newtown, with Nelson Mandela Bridge in the background
Coordinates: 26°12′14″S 28°02′02″E / 26.204°S 28.034°E / -26.204; 28.034
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
MunicipalityCity of Johannesburg
Main PlaceJohannesburg
Government
 • CouncillorNokuthula Albertina Xaba (African National Congress)
Area
 • Total0.85 km2 (0.33 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total2,505
 • Density2,900/km2 (7,600/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African90.0%
 • Coloured1.9%
 • Indian/Asian6.4%
 • White1.2%
 • Other0.6%
Language (2011)
 • Zulu20.9%
 • English12.5%
 • Tswana10.0%
 • Northern Sotho8.1%
 • Other48.6%
Websitewww.newtown.gov.za

Newtown is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in the capital city of Gauteng Province[3] and in Region F of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. It has the coordinates of 26.204°S and 28.034°E. The suburb originated as a manufacturing district for brick production.[4]

Historical background

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In the early 20th century, the Newtown Precinct was named "the Brickfields". In 1896, approximately 7,000 people[5] lived in the town.

A number of industries developed at Brickfields, such as trade firms, banks, brick factories, a brewery, and fisheries. Immigrants from other nations, also settled in Brieckfields.[6]

In April 1904, Mahatma Gandi declared an outbreak of the bubonic plague in Brickfield. The plague caused 82 fatalities and 112 people were reportedly diagnosed with it.[7] The local government initiated the fire brigade to start fires within the town, aiming to cease the plague.

Turbine Hall

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Originally built between 1927 and 1934, the Turbine Hall became the largest "three steam-driven" power stations. It is situated in the middle of Newtown and has been deemed an iconic building in the art and culture precinct.[8]

Cleanup

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The Greater Newtown Construction was initiated by City of Johannesburg Municipality Council, which rehabilitated old suburb structures, enhanced public open spaces, and introduced closed-circuit television.[9]

Newtown's street lighting was designed by the French engineer Patrick Rimoux.[10]

Regeneration

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Johannesburg City Council partnered with Gauteng Agency, Blue IQ, in a project to develop the community of Newtown.[11] The project included building five housing developments in which Council states, "[it will] cater for different levels of income".[12]

The plan details that over 2,000 housing units will be built within a few years. The Nelson Mandela Bridge, inaugurated on 20 July 2003,[13] is the northern entrance to Newtown.

References

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  1. ^ "LGE 2016 List of Councillors". Electoral Commission of South Africa. August 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Newport, Statistics South Africa, 2011, retrieved 4 June 2019
  3. ^ Mudzamatira, Witness (2019). "The Efficacy of Cultural Resources Management in Southern Gauteng Province, South Africa". The South African Archaeological Bulletin. 74 (209): 3–15. JSTOR 26841984.
  4. ^ "Newtown Improvement District - History". www.newtown.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  5. ^ "Region F Suburbs". www.joburg.org.za. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  6. ^ Herbst, Michael (1998). "Second Johannesburg Biennale: Alternating Currents". African Arts. 31 (3): 74. doi:10.2307/3337580. JSTOR 3337580.
  7. ^ Mitchell, J. Alexander (1921). "Plague in South Africa: Perpetuation and Spread of Infection by Wild Rodents". The Journal of Hygiene. 20 (4): 377–382. doi:10.1017/s0022172400034112. ISSN 0022-1724. JSTOR 3859059. PMC 2207056. PMID 20474748.
  8. ^ Gaugle (2005). "Alternating Currents of Power: From Colonial to Post-apartheid Spatial Patterns in Newtown, Johannesburg". Urban Studies. 42 (13): 2335–2361. doi:10.1080/00420980500379453. JSTOR 43084426. S2CID 154869892..
  9. ^ "Newtown Improvement District - History". www.newtown.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  10. ^ Dirsuweit, Teresa (1999-06-01). "From fortress city to creative city". Urban Forum. 10 (2): 183–213. doi:10.1007/BF03036618. ISSN 1874-6330. S2CID 154503763.
  11. ^ "Development Planning". www.joburg.org.za. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  12. ^ ROGERSON, Christian M.; ROGERSON, Jayne M. (2016). "Intra-urban spatial differentiation of tourism:: Evidence from Johannesburg, South Africa". Urbani Izziv. 27 (2): 125–137. ISSN 0353-6483. JSTOR 24921001.
  13. ^ "Steel offers numerous advantages in bridge construction, says SAISC". Leading Architecture & Design. 2019-05-27. Retrieved 2021-04-04.