Waterkloof
Encyclopedia
Waterkloof is a suburb
of the city of Pretoria
, South Africa
. It is named after the original farm that stood there when Pretoria was founded in the 19th Century. Located to the east of the city centre, Waterkloof is a leafy, established area that is home to some of the city's most expensive real estate. Like large parts of Pretoria
, its streets are lined with many jacaranda
trees that blossom in a riot of colour during October.
During the apartheid regime in South Africa, Waterkloof was associated with the Afrikaner
elite as several high-ranking government officials made their home here. Today it is a highly sought-after area, boasting some magnificent hilltop homesteads on Edward and Victoria Streets that command an impressive view of the South African capital, including the Union Buildings
. The suburb bears the imprint of the British Empire
as many of its streets are named after British royalty. It houses the Pretoria Country Club which has a fine 18-hole golf course.
Several ambassadorial residences are located in the suburb. It is the home of the noted South African soprano
Mimi Coertse
, and the location of the upmarket Dube-house in the Academy Award
winning film Tsotsi
.
The main thoroughfares are Crown Avenue, which links Waterkloof with the affluent suburb of Brooklyn, Pretoria
to its north, and Albert Street, which runs East-West between the neighbouring areas of Menlo Park
and Groenkloof
.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of the city of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, 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 named after the original farm that stood there when Pretoria was founded in the 19th Century. Located to the east of the city centre, Waterkloof is a leafy, established area that is home to some of the city's most expensive real estate. Like large parts of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, its streets are lined with many jacaranda
Jacaranda
Jacaranda is a genus of 49 species of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of South America , Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is also found in Asia, especially in Nepal...
trees that blossom in a riot of colour during October.
During the apartheid regime in South Africa, Waterkloof was associated with the Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
elite as several high-ranking government officials made their home here. Today it is a highly sought-after area, boasting some magnificent hilltop homesteads on Edward and Victoria Streets that command an impressive view of the South African capital, including the Union Buildings
Union Buildings
The Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. The imposing buildings are located in Pretoria, atop Meintjieskop at the Northern end of Arcadia, close to historic Church Square and the Voortrekker Monument...
. The suburb bears the imprint of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
as many of its streets are named after British royalty. It houses the Pretoria Country Club which has a fine 18-hole golf course.
Several ambassadorial residences are located in the suburb. It is the home of the noted South African soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
Mimi Coertse
Mimi Coertse
Mimi Coertse , is a South African soprano.-Early life:Coertse, born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, matriculated at the Helpmekaar Girls High School in Johannesburg. She began vocal studies in South Africa in 1949. In July 1953 she married the broadcaster and composer Dawid Engela. She left South Africa...
, and the location of the upmarket Dube-house in the Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
winning film Tsotsi
Tsotsi
Tsotsi is a 2005 film written and directed by Gavin Hood. The film is an adaptation of the novel Tsotsi, by Athol Fugard. The soundtrack features Kwaito music performed by popular South African artist Zola as well as a score by Mark Kilian and Paul Hepker featuring the voice of South African...
.
The main thoroughfares are Crown Avenue, which links Waterkloof with the affluent suburb of Brooklyn, Pretoria
Brooklyn, Pretoria
Brooklyn is a suburb of the city of Pretoria, South Africa. It is a well-established area, lying to the east of the city centre, encompassing high-end residential properties and several upmarket mall developments. It borders the University of Pretoria to its north and the suburbs of Groenkloof and...
to its north, and Albert Street, which runs East-West between the neighbouring areas of Menlo Park
Menlo Park, Pretoria
Menlo Park is a suburb in the city of Pretoria, South Africa. It borders other upmarket areas Waterkloof, Brooklyn and Lynnwood. When it was first established between the 1950s and 1970s, it was the most eastern suburb of Pretoria, but the city has since considerably expanded eastwards...
and Groenkloof
Groenkloof
Groenkloof is a suburb of Pretoria, South Africa.The famous Little Company of Mary Hospital is situated in Groenkloof as well as the Education Faculty of the University of Pretoria. It is also home to other well known establishments,such as Groenkloof Spar, Café 41, Pride of India, Fumo...
.
See also
- AFB WaterkloofAFB WaterkloofAir Force Base Waterkloof is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is situated on the outskirts of Pretoria, and is the SAAF's busiest airbase.The base's name, Waterkloof, is Afrikaans, it means Water Ravine in English....
, an air force base located in Centurion, GautengCenturion, GautengCenturion is an area with 279,430 inhabitants in Gauteng Province of South Africa, located between Pretoria and Midrand . Formerly an independent municipality, with its own town council, it is now part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality...
. - Hoërskool WaterkloofHoërskool waterkloofHoërskool Waterkloof is an Afrikaans high school situated in the wealthy eastern suburbs of Pretoria, South Africa. It had grown to become the largest Afrikaans school in the world by 2004, with 2,200 pupils and 140 teachers. It is also one of the top schools in Pretoria and has been...
, large Afrikaans high school situated in Waterkloof. - Stephen Bartlett LakemanStephen Bartlett LakemanSir Stephen Bartlett Lakeman, also known as Mazar Paşa or Mozhar Pasha was an English-born British and Ottoman adventurer, soldier, and administrator...
, commander of the Waterkloof Rangers in the Xhosa WarsXhosa warsThe Xhosa Wars, also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, were a series of nine wars between the Xhosa people and European settlers, from 1779 to 1879 in what is now the Eastern Cape in South Africa....
.