Newtown, Gauteng
Encyclopedia
Newtown is a suburb
of Johannesburg
, South Africa
. It is located in Region 8
. Newtown is currently being developed into a vibrant, mixed-use area with a unique character based on existing cultural facilities - the indelible Kippies, the world renowned Market Theatre, SAB World of Beer
, Moyo Restaurant at the Market, the buzz of Nikki's Oasis, the numerous international artists who have graced the Newtown Music Centre and not forgetting the unique shopping experience of the Oriental Plaza just around the corner from Newtown.
, the Johannesburg City Council
- through the Johannesburg Development Agency - is transforming Newtown into a safe and attractive place to work, live and visit. The project entails several improvements of the area, all aimed at making Newtown safe, accessible, and attractive. These include five housing developments catering for different income levels.
Over 2 000 housing units will be built over the next three years. This destination has been made accessible through the construction of the Nelson Mandela Bridge
and associated M1/Carr Street interchange. The Nelson Mandela Bridge opened on 20 July 2003 and has become the new gateway from the north into Newtown.
, Newtown covers an area that stretches from the marshalling yards and railway lines to the north, the M2 motorway
in the south, West Street in the east and Quinn Street in the west.
This destination is now easier to reach with the construction of the Nelson Mandela Bridge
and associated N1
/ Carr Street interchange, co-funded by Blue IQ, the City of Johannesburg, National Roads Agency and the National Department of Transport.
As this land was close to the centre of Johannesburg and the railway line, many businesses and immigrants coming from overseas bought stands in Burghersdorp. Soon, trading companies, banks, brick companies, a brewery, and fisheries moved into the area.
In April 1904, the fire brigade set the area alight destroying everything in the inferno - a measure allegedly to combat the bubonic plague that had broken out. The area was surveyed, re-planned in unbecoming haste and renamed Newtown by October 1904, a commercial area where vast fortunes in milling, production of sugar and food merchandising would be made. Newtown has now become synonymous with the heritage and culture of South Africa and especially Johannesburg.
The establishment of a City Improvement District, the installation of closed-circuit TV, the upgrading of existing buildings and public open spaces have turned Newtown into a safe, secure and attractive environment. Mary Fitzgerald Square constantly hosts public performances and gatherings. With lighting designed by renowned French lighting designer, Patrick Rimoux, Newtown has been transformed into a well-lit attractive destination.
The energy, innovation and vitality that were integral to Johannesburg's past success, and which are still associated with the city today, do not only have a commercial dimension. They also find creative expression in the arts, the architecture, and the cultural activities of the city. These are richly represented in the theatres, studios, workshops, museums and buildings of Newtown - a historic area of Johannesburg's central business district that has long acted as a magnet for creative and cultural activities.
South Africa°N date=July 2009°W
Suburbs of Johannesburg
The suburbs of Johannesburg are officially demarcated areas within the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. As in other Commonwealth countries, the term suburb refers to a "neighbourhood", although the term has a somewhat stronger meaning in South Africa as most "suburbs" have legally recognised...
of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is located in Region 8
Region 8 (Johannesburg)
Region 8 was an administrative district from 2000 to 2006 in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, located in the historic heart of Johannesburg centrally situated on the north-west axis, and towards the eastern border. Surrounding regions, from the north and proceeding clockwise, were Region 3 ,...
. Newtown is currently being developed into a vibrant, mixed-use area with a unique character based on existing cultural facilities - the indelible Kippies, the world renowned Market Theatre, SAB World of Beer
SAB World of Beer
SAB World of Beer is a museum of beer, and conference venue operated by South African Breweries; it is located in Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa.The museum has nearly 50,000 visitors a year. It is open for tours Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm....
, Moyo Restaurant at the Market, the buzz of Nikki's Oasis, the numerous international artists who have graced the Newtown Music Centre and not forgetting the unique shopping experience of the Oriental Plaza just around the corner from Newtown.
Regeneration
Newtown is one of five tourism developments aimed at inner-city regeneration. In partnership with Gauteng Agency Blue IQBlue IQ
Blue IQ is a multi-billion rand initiative to develop economic infrastructure for specific major projects in the technology sector, high value-added manufacturing and tourism....
, the Johannesburg City Council
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality
The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality that manages the local governance of Johannesburg, South Africa...
- through the Johannesburg Development Agency - is transforming Newtown into a safe and attractive place to work, live and visit. The project entails several improvements of the area, all aimed at making Newtown safe, accessible, and attractive. These include five housing developments catering for different income levels.
Over 2 000 housing units will be built over the next three years. This destination has been made accessible through the construction of the Nelson Mandela Bridge
Nelson Mandela Bridge
The Nelson Mandela Bridge is a bridge in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was completed in 2003 with a R38 million price tag. The proposal for the bridge was to link up two main business areas of Braamfontein and Newtown as well as to rejuvenate and to a certain level modernize the inner city, which...
and associated M1/Carr Street interchange. The Nelson Mandela Bridge opened on 20 July 2003 and has become the new gateway from the north into Newtown.
Location
Located in the western sector of the Johannesburg city centreCentral Business District (Johannesburg)
The Central Business District, commonly called Johannesburg CBD, is one of the main business centres of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the most dense collection of skyscrapers in Africa, however due to white flight and urban blight, many of the buildings are unoccupied as tenants have left for...
, Newtown covers an area that stretches from the marshalling yards and railway lines to the north, the M2 motorway
M2 (Johannesburg)
The M2 is a major highway in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is named the Francois Oberholzer Freeway. It runs just to the South of the Central Business District eastwards where it connects with the N3 . The north-south M1 intersects with the M2 just to the east of the CBD....
in the south, West Street in the east and Quinn Street in the west.
This destination is now easier to reach with the construction of the Nelson Mandela Bridge
Nelson Mandela Bridge
The Nelson Mandela Bridge is a bridge in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was completed in 2003 with a R38 million price tag. The proposal for the bridge was to link up two main business areas of Braamfontein and Newtown as well as to rejuvenate and to a certain level modernize the inner city, which...
and associated N1
N1 Western Bypass (South Africa)
The Western Bypass is a section of the N1 and the Johannesburg Ring Road located in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. The freeway was inially opened in 1975 as a route to avoid the city centre of Johannesburg and access for the western areas of the Witwatersrand. From the south, the Western...
/ Carr Street interchange, co-funded by Blue IQ, the City of Johannesburg, National Roads Agency and the National Department of Transport.
Historical background
At the turn of the 20th century, the Newtown Precinct was known as "the Brickfields". This area was rich in clay, and brick making became the most popular form of generating income. By 1896, about 7 000 people of all races lived in the area, later named Burghersdorp.As this land was close to the centre of Johannesburg and the railway line, many businesses and immigrants coming from overseas bought stands in Burghersdorp. Soon, trading companies, banks, brick companies, a brewery, and fisheries moved into the area.
In April 1904, the fire brigade set the area alight destroying everything in the inferno - a measure allegedly to combat the bubonic plague that had broken out. The area was surveyed, re-planned in unbecoming haste and renamed Newtown by October 1904, a commercial area where vast fortunes in milling, production of sugar and food merchandising would be made. Newtown has now become synonymous with the heritage and culture of South Africa and especially Johannesburg.
Cleaning up
As with major cities in some regions of the world, Johannesburg's city centre has been through a period of stagnation and degeneration. However, in the past few years a number of initiatives have been adopted to reverse these trends. One of the most important of these is the Greater Newtown Development.The establishment of a City Improvement District, the installation of closed-circuit TV, the upgrading of existing buildings and public open spaces have turned Newtown into a safe, secure and attractive environment. Mary Fitzgerald Square constantly hosts public performances and gatherings. With lighting designed by renowned French lighting designer, Patrick Rimoux, Newtown has been transformed into a well-lit attractive destination.
The energy, innovation and vitality that were integral to Johannesburg's past success, and which are still associated with the city today, do not only have a commercial dimension. They also find creative expression in the arts, the architecture, and the cultural activities of the city. These are richly represented in the theatres, studios, workshops, museums and buildings of Newtown - a historic area of Johannesburg's central business district that has long acted as a magnet for creative and cultural activities.
South Africa°N date=July 2009°W