The following is an interesting account of life in the Walkerville area in the 1920's and 1930's. As recounted to Stephen Smuts by Lizzie Sibiya in the late 90's

Back in the early 1920's as a pikinin of about 5 or 6 Lizzie came here with her family from the Free State. With no formal education, in her early teens she helped pack the apple crates - a layer apples, a layer grass. She says both red and green varieties. Apple Orchards really earned its name. It was a vast area under apple trees while Walker's Fruit Farms was the pear growing area. All the Apple Orchards and Fruit Farms, she thinks, belonged to "Old Man Walker". Fruit Farms and Apple Orchards were connected by a road that ran through what today is the commonage. The fruit trees were irrigated from Scotch carts - a water tanker cart drawn by two oxen. The irrigation water came from the river at the bottom of the hill near today's Walkerville Vet or from the spring at the bottom of the Ohenimuri hill. The picked fruit had to get to market and Lizzie recalls the crates being loaded on the 'bokwa' - a wagon drawn by 12 oxen. Johannesburg was a 2 day drive away. Having crossed the Klip River at Jackson's Drift (Eikenhof) they would camp at today's Kilbler Park and continue the journey to market the following day.

In those days there were no Walkerville shops. The only building was the post office which she recalls had a thatch roof. There was also only a gravel road between Johannesburg and Vereeniging. Apart from commerce between the Walkerville area and Johannesburg, this gravel road was a highway to Durban. Weilbach's Farm was a staging post on this road - the next stop after Jackson's Drift on the way to the coast. It was also a road traversed by hunters who hunted on the plains north of today's Sebokeng. Lizzie says there was grazing game as far as the eye could see. She says often one saw these hunters returning to Johannesburg along the dusty road with a buck tied over the bonnet. "But those cars are not the same as today" she says. "You still had to start them with the crankhandle". And what of shopping. With no shops, she says they procured supplies of eggs, sugar etc. from groups of wandering 'coolies' - Indians who walked around carrying bags of these supplies over their shoulders. You could get almost anything you wanted from the Indians who even carried dress material in those magical bags. This is the life Lizzie recalls in her teens. In her late teens/ early twenties Lizzie started work in Turffontein, Johannesburg as a domestic for a shilling (ten cents) a day. There was nothing easy about that as she still lived here in Walkerville. It meant getting up at 3am, getting ready then at 3.30am starting to walk - yes walk about 30 kilometres to work, ready to start at 7am, in summer rain and winter cold when the temperatures often drop well below zero. At night Lizzie and colleagues were able to get van Zyl's bus to Faraday but from there it was a walk all the way home again.

Apart from this discomfort, it was scary walking at night. Often they would surprise a wild animal that was sleeping which would explode away in fright from the equally scared walkers. There were however no dangerous animals around - the worst only being jackal. As far as wildlife is concerned Lizzie recalls there was rich wildlife in the area, particularly near Perdeberg which she knew as Aasvoelberg - Vulture Mountain. There was lots for these birds to eat - dead horses and cows as well as game. Wild animals that she remembers seeing were Springbok and Reedbuck, hares, porcupine and hedgehog, antbears and honey badgers. There is one she calls a Kommetjiekat which she says held its tail up while otherwise remaining motionless. It would defecate small droppings which would attract birds such as chickens and guinea fowl. When the bird got close up to eat these easy pickings, the Kommetjiekat would whip around and catch the bird.

My thanks to Lizzie for this insight into the 'good old days' of Walkerville of the 1920 and 30's. After the 2nd World War all was to change when the Walker family decided to cut up the farm into smallholdings to sell to returning troops, so heralding the Walkerville we know today. Today, Lizzie still remains active, dressed as smartly as any lady when a special occasion demands. Otherwise she passes in old clothes, unnoticed amongst her community, helping others by assisting to arrange pensions and funerals and resolve other problems. In doing so, she has become one of the characters and living legends of Walkerville.

Lizzie turns 90 on the same day, in the same year as Madiba.  Stephen Smuts met up with her recently  for an update.  He reports that she is as spritely and mentally clear as always.  Other than poor sight, she doesn't appear to be a day over 60!

 

This series of sketches of historical sites, by local artist Colleen Mulrooney, has been reproduced several times as both postcards and calenders.

The Packing Shed

Apples and pears aplenty, is what this building was all about in the 1920's.  Used by a farmer to pack his fruit before being carted by ox-wagon to the nearby cider factory or salted for future use.

This romantic version is in fact not true.  The old barn on the MacDougall’s farm has only ever been used to store hay and teff.  The property belonged to the Walker Family until Arthur Walker 2nd death in 2005.  The MacDougall’s had been renting for nearly 30 years and decided it was time to buy.  The shed still stands but is hardly used nowadays, except for the flock of peacocks that have made it their roost.  The main farmhouse, still in almost original condition was built in 1896.  The high ceilings, sash windows and stained glass bear testimony to a grand old era.  The verandah was modified some years ago when the house underwent repairs, but its charm remains in tact.

Varkensfontein 1926
the area Varkenfontein was named after the arum lillies that grew wild in the area

 

Lonely Thatched Cottage

What a proud man it was when he had completed this charming cottage in the early 1930's for his family.  Traveling from the Free State this corner of Walkers Fruit farms with its trees and plentiful water must have seemed idyllic.

Nothing but a ruin remains of this historic landmark.  Surrounded by car wrecks and junk it is a sad sight.  Its solid walls and sturdy gables attest to original builder’s skill.  The property is for sale.  Hopefully whoever buys it will feel that same sense of pride the original builder felt, and restore it to its former quaint charm.

The Chapel

Peace on earth is the feeling when visiting this private family chapel.  Recently built to commemorate his late Mother, a local farmer chose a beautiful view site next to the final resting place of the farm's previous family.  Some of the graves date back to the early 1900's among them Charles Glass - not the Charles Glass of Castle Lager fame.

Perdeberg Cottage

Nestling at the base of this majestic koppie is a house believed to be the oldest in Walkerville.  Built in the late 1870's Paul Kruger was pleased to sleep here when visiting the Heidelberg Commando, who were active in the area.

This sturdy bulding is situated on Charlie Jacob's farm in Drumblade.  Nowadays it is used for storage and labourer's quarters.  What a fabulous little B&B, or restaurant, it would make!  The inside is good condition and the cottage is suprisinlgy large.

Spioenkop

Rumour abounds about this koppie in the Walkerville area.  Was it the scene of fierce fighting between the Boers and the British red Coats in the First War of Independence or an Observation post which changed hands many times during the Anglo Boer War?  Is the deep hole a well or a shaft for iron, which might have been mined by the native tribes which moved through this area on their way to Zimbabwe?  One thing cannot be disputed, it is a peaceful, beautiful view-site today.

Workhorse Farm

Situated in Walkers Fruit Farms is where craftsmen ply their trade from another era, building coaches and carts.  These were made completely by hand - including the wheels - using skills passed down over three generations.  The organically run farm is a delight and indicates how a farm operated many years ago in the Walkerville area.

This delightful building in Walkers Fruit Farms is situated on Colin Tegner’s property.  Colin has been a resident in Walkers Fruit Farms since the 1960's.  A coach builder with an established reputation - he supplied all the coaches at Gold Reef City, and was recently commissioned by the King of Lesotho to build a Landau State Coach for delivery in September 2008.  Colin's property in Walkers Fruit Farms is a mini version of Gold Reef City with an assortment of cottages, workshops and an impressive showroom that houses several buggies, wagons and an Omnibus that is being registered for a resident in Henley.  All items on display have either been built, or restored in Colin's workshops.