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Click to view large map Coordinates: | Construction has now started in Bloemfontein on the new residence for the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa. The site was donated by the Bloemfontein Municipal Council, and is beautifully situated on a level platform halfway up the hillside to the north of the town between the Arboretum and Signal Hill. The site is sufficiently high up to give an extensive view of the country and hills some 50 miles [80km] away. The new residence has been designed in the traditional South African manner, with white-plastered walls and gables, a special feature being made of the flowered pergolas and long open stoeps. The main entrance to the building is from the south-west. All the principal reception rooms overlook the gardens on the north-east. An interesting point is that it will be possible to throw the sitting-room, dining-room and the lounge into one, by means of sliding glass doors. Easily accessible from these principal reception rooms is the private sitting-room and the study of Her Excellency and the Governor-General. Both sitting-room and study lead to a private stoep which overlooks Signal Hill and past the City. On either side of the entrance hall are arranged the of the staff, with attendant cloak rooms. To the left are the kitchen quarters and general service rooms. Generally speaking, the first floor is given over to bedrooms, with the servants' wing over the kitchen quarters. The foundations have been built of local blue ironstone, and the roof is to be covered with plain-pattern Broseley red tiles. The main approach to the house on the south-west frontage is along a broad gravelled walk. On both sides of this approach, stretching up to the house, are grass lawns, including a circular drive flanked by indigenous plants and natural rock gardens. The drive curves round on either side of the entrance. A large lawn on the north-east or garden frontage will be used for garden parties. This lawn will be bordered by flower-beds and terraces of coloured shrubs, the terraces being arranged to drop away down the hill to a belt of trees below. Rising with the contours of the hill to the north, the lay-out includes a swimming pool and tennis courts. Here again terraces are worked into the natural formations. Further to the north-west, behind a small rise, the hillside has been excavated to hold the Native [sic] quarters and transformer house. This group, reminiscent of a small rest-camp, takes the form of thatched rondavels at each end of the garage block. The guard-room, caretaker's house and nursery gardens are arranged out of view on the lowest part of the site. (TURNER NEWHAM in PWSA November 1939 Vol III No 13:13). References:
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