FIG Properties

28/05/2026

The history of Generaal Alberts in Alberton is closely tied to the very founding of Alberton itself.
The suburb and several landmarks in Alberton were named after General Hendrik Abraham Alberts (often called General Hennie Alberts), a Boer military commander, businessman and one of the key figures behind the establishment of Alberton. �
Wikipedia +1

Who was General Hennie Alberts?
General Hendrik Abraham Alberts was born in 1855 in the Cape Colony. He became known during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902) as a Boer military commander and later became involved in land development and business. �
Wikipedia

After the war, Alberts purchased a portion of the old Elandsfontein Farm from the Meyer family around 1904 and named the new development Alberton after himself. Alberton officially celebrated its centenary in 2005. �
Wikipedia +1

How did the suburb Generaal Alberts get its name?
The area known today as General Albertspark (often locally shortened to “Generaal Alberts”) was later developed and named in honour of General Alberts and his role in creating Alberton. �
Wikipedia +1

Other places in Alberton that also honour him include:
Generaal Alberts Primary School
Hennie Alberts Street / Avenue
Albertsdal suburb
Alberton itself �
Wikipedia +1

What was the area originally?
Before suburbs existed, this area formed part of large farming land:
Elandsfontein
Klipriviersberg
Swartkoppies
These farms belonged to early settler families, especially the Meyer family, before urban development began. �
Wikipedia

A nice local detail: the Jan Meyer homestead linked to Alberton’s earliest history can still be seen from sections near the N12 and remains one of Alberton’s oldest surviving heritage links. �
Wikipedia

27/05/2026

The History of Brackenhurst, Alberton 🇿🇦
Brackenhurst is one of Alberton’s most recognisable suburbs today, but its story starts long before houses, schools and shopping centres appeared.

🌾 Before Brackenhurst – The Farming Years (1800s–early 1900s)
The land that became Brackenhurst formed part of the greater farming landscape around Alberton. Much of this area traces back to the old Meyer family farms connected to Elandsfontein and surrounding farmland. These farms helped shape Alberton’s earliest settlement period. �
Wikipedia +1

Alberton itself was officially founded in 1904, when land was purchased and developed into a new town named after General Hendrik Abraham Alberts. �
South African History Online +1

🏡 The Birth of Brackenhurst (1968–1974)
Brackenhurst as a suburb is relatively modern.
The suburb was developed in phases:
Original Brackenhurst – 1968 (about 111 hectares)
Extension 1 – 1971 (about 240 hectares)
Extension 2 – 1974 (about 422 hectares)
This growth transformed open veld and agricultural land into a family-focused residential suburb. �
Alberton Heritage

🛣️ Why Brackenhurst Became So Popular
Brackenhurst grew quickly because:
Large residential stands
Tree-lined streets
Easy access to Johannesburg
Strong family and school community
Close proximity to newer suburbs like Meyersdal and Brackendowns
Many of the suburb’s street names were chosen to honour Alberton pioneers and historical figures connected to the town’s development. �
Alberton Heritage +1

⛰️ A Symbol of the Area
One of the strongest reminders of Brackenhurst’s earlier landscape is the nearby Meyersdal Koppie — a surviving natural landmark that links today’s suburb back to the original open farmland and early settlement era. �
Wikipedia +1

A nice way to sum up Brackenhurst:
“From open farmland to one of Alberton’s most loved family suburbs — Brackenhurst grew with Alberton while still carrying pieces of its rural heritage.”

27/05/2026

Let's welcome our new followers.

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Tsholofelo Matima Avon-Justine

26/05/2026

One of Johannesburg’s strangest hidden historical sites is the old mine shaft preserved inside the Standard Bank head office precinct on Simmonds Street in the CBD. It isn’t an active mine — it’s a preserved section of one of Johannesburg’s earliest underground gold workings. �
City Sightseeing South Africa +1

The shaft is commonly known as the Ferreira Mine Stope and links back to the earliest days of Johannesburg’s gold rush. The story starts in 1886, when gold was discovered on the Witwatersrand and a mining camp called Ferreira’s Camp grew into what would later become Johannesburg. �
Wikipedia +1

Fast forward to the 1980s: during construction of Standard Bank’s newer office development in the CBD, workers unexpectedly uncovered the entrance to an old underground mining excavation (a stope/tunnel) from the city’s earliest mining era. Instead of sealing it permanently, Standard Bank chose to preserve it and integrate it into the building as a small heritage exhibit and museum space. �
City Sightseeing South Africa +2

What makes it remarkable:
It is a physical piece of the original underground workings beneath central Johannesburg.

It reminds visitors that much of the modern CBD literally sits above old gold excavations.
Engineers had to stabilise surrounding underground areas because historic workings can create subsidence risks. Some areas were reinforced and grouted during development. �

Show Caves of the World
It became known informally as the Mine Shaft Museum or Ferreira Mine Stope. �
overend.co.za +1

A fun historical connection: Standard Bank itself was deeply tied to the gold rush and was reportedly the first bank to open on the Witwatersrand goldfields in 1886, operating initially from a tent at Ferreira’s Camp. �
Wikipedia

Today, access has varied over the years — historically there were public visits and occasional heritage access, but availability may be limited depending on building security and arrangements. �

Show Caves of the World
For someone from Alberton history circles: this is one of those hidden places that explains why Johannesburg exists at all — the city was effectively built around mines first, streets second.

25/05/2026

4 Bedroom House For Sale in Brackenhurst https://www.figproperties.co.za/results/residential/for-sale/alberton/brackenhurst/house/3169685/6-abel-moller/

25/05/2026

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BRACKENHURST R 1 820 000

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24/05/2026

24/05/2026

24/05/2026

The blockhouse you see on the R59 next to the Engen garage is called the Witkop Blockhouse — and it’s one of the most fascinating surviving pieces of local history near Alberton/Meyerton. �
The blockhouse you see on the R59 next to the Engen garage is called the Witkop Blockhouse — and it’s one of the most fascinating surviving pieces of local history near Alberton/Meyerton. �
The Heritage Portal +1

Why was it built?
The Witkop Blockhouse was constructed around 1900 during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902) by British forces under the command of Lord Roberts. Its purpose was military rather than residential. �
Wikipedia +1

At that stage of the war, Boer commandos had moved away from large battles and started using fast movement and raids. To counter this, the British created a huge network of blockhouses across South Africa. These structures were linked by:
barbed wire lines,
patrol routes,
and observation points.
Their goal was to restrict movement and protect strategic routes, especially railways and supply corridors. �
South African Archaeological Society +1

Why this exact location?
Witkop sits on a rise overlooking the surrounding area between Johannesburg and Vereeniging. From there soldiers could monitor movement over a large distance. Historically the area was important because of the nearby transport corridor between the mining economy of Johannesburg and the southern regions. �
Wikipedia +1

Interesting details
It is a two-storey stone blockhouse.
The entrance was originally raised above ground level for defence.
It had firing slits and observation positions.
The site originally included trenches and barbed-wire protection. �
Wikipedia

Why is it special today?
Most South African blockhouses disappeared over time, but Witkop survived and was declared a National Monument in 1948. It is regarded as one of the better-known surviving blockhouses in Gauteng and one of the few reminders of that military system still standing next to a modern highway and service station. �
Where To Stay +1

Fun local fact: the Engen stop is called “Blockhouse” because the historic structure was already there long before the fuel station existed. �
Engen +1

24/05/2026

Let's welcome our new followers
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