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Railway Institute - now Berea Park
Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng
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Click to view large map Coordinates: | Opening of Railway Institute, Pretoria. THE opening of the new Railway Institute at Pretoria marks an important advance in the history of this movement in South Africa, and places the large body of railway workers in Pretoria in the possession of the finest railway institute in the country, and one which ranks with the Railway Institute at Sydney, N.S.W., as among the best in the Southern Hemisphere. In the past the Pretoria Institute has been severely handicapped through lack of accommodation rendering it impossible to establish separate technical classes in the institute for apprentices from the railway workshops. Now that this difficulty has been overcome it is hoped that an arrangement may be come to between the Institute and the Pretoria Polytechnic Institution, an institution which has done excellent work in the past, whereby certain classes shall be carried on in the Railway Institute and the examinations made to qualify for the Diploma of the Polytechnic Institution. Another important branch which has suffered in the past is the Library. In this connection ample provision has been made in the new building for a large increase in the number of volumes when funds will permit of it. Whilst providing for the educational side of the Institute, the social side has not been overlooked, every effort having been made to ensure successful working by making the Institute as attractive as possible. Towards the end of 1902 the Pretoria Institute and Amateur Athletic Association received a loan from the Railway Administration under certain conditions which were formally entered into with the employees. This enabled them to acquire and carry out extensive leveling operations on Berea Park, one of the most beautifully situated recreation grounds in South Africa. Since then farther sums have been expended from time to time out of revenue in leveling, draining, construction of tennis courts and enlarging the playing field, with the result that to-day there is not a finer sporting ground in the Transvaal. Within easy access of the town and station, the ground has its principal entrance from Berea Road, and is bounded on the East and South by the Aapies River, which with its thickly wooded banks forms an attractive background. A temporary wood and iron building was erected which answered the requirements of the Institute until last year, when the committee decided to approach the Railway Administration for a loan for the purpose of erecting a permanent building, and a further grant and loan was made by the Railway Administration for this purpose. The new Institute which was commenced last November is situated on the West side of the field and stands on the site of the old building. It is raised considerably above the level of the field and occupies the whole space from front to back between Berea Road and the boundary of the field, the total width of building being 65 feet and the length 158 feet [48 m]. The main entrance is from Berea Road giving access to the central block which is two storeys in height, the side wings are single storey and each have separate entrances direct from Berea Road. The plans reproduced with this article show the disposition of the rooms on each floor, but the following notes may serve better to explain the working of the Institute. The main entrance bay in the centre of the building is flanked by loggias on ground floor and verandahs on upper floor 9 feet [2.7 m] wide. On passing through to the entrance hall, which measures 18 feet [5.5 m] by 14 feet [4.3 m], the staircase to the upper floor rises on the right, while the secretary's room is situated on the left, and immediately behind it a passage 4 feet [1.2 m] wide leads to the class rooms and card room. The two principal class rooms each measure 24 feet 6 inches [7.5 m] by 22 feet 3 inches [6.8m], and are divided by a folding partition of the most approved make which can be thrown open to form a hall 44 feet 6 inches [13.5 m] by 24 feet 6 inches [7.5 m] by 15 feet 6 inches [4.7 m] high, suitable for lectures and demonstrations. This hall which forms a side wing to the central block is balanced on the other side by the billiard room wing. The lesser class room measures 18 feet [5.5 m] by 13 feet 6 inches [4 m]. These class rooms forming the educational side of the Institute have a separate entrance direct from the front loggia, and mav be cut off from the rest of the building, thus enabling classes to be carried out without interfering with the social side of the Institute. The room set aside for cards, chess and draughts measures 18 feet by 16 feet 9 inches, and is conveniently arranged adjoining the entrance hall. To the right of the entrance hall a passage leads direct to the billiard room, which has accommodation for four tables. The bar measuring 38 feet [11.5 m] by 16 feet 6 inches [5 m], adjoins the billiard room and is connected with it by a door and service hatch, while three doors open direct on to the main back verandah facing field. These verandahs on the ground and upper floors form the chief attraction of the Institute. They each measure 75 feet [22.8 m] long by 18 feet [5.5 m] wide, with further extensions 24 feet [7.3 m] long by 7 feet [2.1 m] wide at each end on the ground floor, and they command an uninterrupted view of the entire field. Doors lead out from all the principal apartments on to these verandahs. The upper floor is given up entirely to reading room, library and committee rooms. The reading room, measuring 36 feet [11 m] by 28 feet 9 inches [8.7 m] and 12 feet [3.6 m] high, extends the whole width of the building, with doors leading out on to the front and back verandahs, the main entrance being from the upper hall. A folding writing desk runs along one side for the use of the members. The library, 29 feet [8.8 m] by 16 feet 9 inches, is [5 m] entered from the upper hall or the stair landing. It is fitted with shelving to contain all the present volumes, and provision is made for a future extension of three or four times this number. The first committee room measures 22 feet [6.7 m] by 14 feet [4.2 m] and the second 18 feet 3 inches [5.6] square, and both have doors leading on to the front verandah. There is a small basement cellar under the bar with access direct to the outside, and owing to the natural fall of the ground from front to back a changing room for players has been arranged under the verandah towards the field. The heating throughout is by means of open fires, while all the principal apartments are ventilated by means of extract shafts in the ceiling connected up to a main trunk and extract ventilator in turret on roof. A lavatory and cloak room adjoins the entrance hall, the bath rooms being arranged in a separate block, but attached to the main building by verandahs. The disposal of waste water is on the Vivian Poore system which filters the water and allows the effluent to percolate through the soil. The general style of the building may be seen from the photographs, the effect of the white walls and heavy wood posts of verandahs in dark brown with green sashes and frames to windows being very pleasing. Electric lighting has been installed throughout. The internal finishings are simple in character but substantial and most suitable for a building of this class. The building, which was commenced last November and completed in the end of June, was designed and carried out under the superintendence of the architect, Mr. Thos. A. Moodie, the total cost being £6,912 exclusive of furnishing, which is estimated to cost an additional £1,000. South African Railway Magazine, Volume 1 (October 1907) pp541-546) References:
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