Modernization[1] has been guided with rapid transformation in societies after the Industrial Revolution due to increased population in the city. The increased population was because of the availability of job opportunities in Johannesburg after the discovery of gold, which attracted immigrants into the city of Johannesburg. This provided capital and prompted awareness for the transformation of the city to provide for the needs of the urban population especially social needs such as leisure. This has necessitated social changes as suburbs were transformed to provide leisure to the increasing population and municipal government strive to plan for a modern city. Thus, the gold revolution in Johannesburg raised the expectations and needs of the urban population as capital was made available for the Town Council to plan and create open spaces for leisure activities.

The discovery of gold led to the growth of Johannesburg from a mining camp to a city and lead to mass migration to the gold fields. The increase number of people in the gold fields meant that effective sanitary arrangements were required. The Digger’s Committee was created as a temporary institution to take care of local administration[2] but answerable to the Transvaal government. The Digger’s Committee’s priority was to provide a healthy sanitary environment, focusing specifically on water and electricity[3].

The population increase prompted the government of the Transvaal to provide proper town planning. Thus, a grid system of small blocks was created.  The Transvaal government priority of creating small stands was to earn as much revenue as possible.

The town planning of the 1880’s, however, did not include the creation of parks basically because the Transvaal government did not think that a city would eventually develop. The only open space[4] created after the discovery of gold was market square. The reason behind this one can argue was because there was still a lack of a proper municipality[5].owever, by 1902 after the end of the Anglo-Boer war, the British government took over the administration of Johannesburg. This gave the British government the opportunity to set up a proper municipality of Johannesburg and transformed the city including leisure spaces. The planning of Johannesburg reflected the image of colonial authorities. Thus, implementing the town policies was the prime concern of the Town Council which facilitated the reconstruction of the city including the provision of more open spaces. As part of its post-war reconstruction agenda the Town Council took it upon itself to provide public services such as water, electricity and the management of open spaces[6].

In addition, the Town Council responded to demands for the creation of leisure facilities such as parks to improve upon urban life of especially the urban white elite. They became wealthy as a result of their investments in and ownership of mining companies. In turn, they had the resources to make some investments in the city’s infrastructure enabling the Town Council to develop and transform some open spaces into parks as capital was readily available. The Town Council planned the city in such a way that ‘nature’ would take its place in the city where human happiness and health were necessary[7].

This study focuses on the creation, development and transformation of Ellis Park from a park to a sporting arena. The essay explores various reasons for this change. Within the context of the development of a modern city the essay argues that health consciousness and body fitness was a matter of great importance to the Johannesburg’s white residents. The end of the 19^th Century witnessed a rising consciousness in body fitness and wellbeing. This again prompted an increase in physical exercises and sport activities. Some of Johannesburg’s residents also expressed these sentiments.

While chasing and angling might have supported the exercise needs of the country populace, Johannesburg’s city environment necessitated other forms of exercise and recreation. The Town Council became increasingly aware of this demand and was inspired to plan for the establishment of playing grounds and even for their transformation into sporting fields.

This was done through implementation of park policy. The park policy would enable the creation of more open spaces for different social activities. The policy also reconsidered public health and entertainment as essential for the increasing population in the city. The park policy enabled the Town Council to take care of the social and general wellbeing of the urban population. Thus, improvement of recreational spaces and transformation of Ellis Park as an open urban space to a sporting area was necessary where different kinds of sporting activities were performed.

The essay argues that the concept of “modernity” constitutes the root cause for the transformation of parks for leisure activities to a playing ground for sporting facilities. Modernization prompted town planning to include open spaces for leisure activities to the increasing urban population and has amazing social changes. With the increasing desire for leisure in the city during the early 20^th Century, this left no choice for municipal governments to make new living social structures as a method for advancing the city and making it liveable for the rich and wealthy whites.  It was hence that the municipal government discovered itself giving social comforts to the residents and enhancing the physical and social environment, for example, improvement of Ellis Park. As modernization in urban areas expands, so does the commitments of the Town Council increased with respect to the welfare and amusement of subjects. Such a change was strengthened in the transformation of Ellis Park to playing ground.

Objective of the Study

The objective of the study is to write up the history of Ellis Park as an example of the changing landscape of Johannesburg as part of the post-war reconstruction program. The specific objectives are:

• To provide an historical background of Johannesburg open spaces.
• To describe the philosophy/general thinking behind park development in Johannesburg
• To describe the initial proclamation, layout and design of Ellis Park.
• To identify changes in the development of park and specifically explain the transformation of the park to a major sporting arena
• To describe the various usages of the park.

This study therefore seeks to examine how Johannesburg Town Council developed a strategy to create playing grounds to meet the needs of its growing population. Read full thesis through the link below POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTIONS IN JOHANNESBURG MUNICIPALITY ELLIS PARK 1902 TO 1920s. By Muluh Chantal

[1] Modernization is a process of change from a traditional society to a modern society while adopting social evolution and development with respect to the rapid process of industrialization.

[2] Appelgryn, M. S.  ‘Johannesburg Origins and Early Management 1886-1899’, University of South-Africa Pretoria, 1984, pp44.

[3] Ibid., pp. 44-50.

[4] Open spaces are areas allocated for outdoor recreation and quiet enjoyment such as athletic fields and playgrounds.

[5] Appelgryn, Johannesburg Origins and Early Management 1886-1899, pp.50.

[6]  Grundlingh, L,  “Parks in the Veld”; the Johannesburg Town Council’s efforts to create Leisure Parks, 1900s -1920s” South African Journal of Cultural History, Volume 26 (Number 2),  November 2012, pp.4.

[7] Grundlingh, “Parks in the Veld”, South African Journal of Cultural History, pp. 17.

Berinyuy Cajetan, Publisher

Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.