Pretoria Gardens

Pretoria Gardens, Pretoria

Interesting that a suburb should be named after gardens without an official garden in sight. But once one begins consulting the history books, the reason for this suburb's name becomes more evident.

Pretoria Gardens developed at the same time in history as Daspoort, Rietondale and Waterkloof - around 1904 - at more-or-less the same time as Pretoria's sewerage system was introduced and an opera house was officially opened.

But two further reasons are said to have contributed to its development as a neighbourhood: it served as an alternative to those who had to give up their homes when the building of the Union Buildings began (the Union Buildings were completed in 1913) and an influx of retired farmers to the town contributed further to its size between 1928 and 1934.

The 'gardens' probably refer to the size of the average erf in the suburb as they remain rather large even today. As a result the suburb, which lies on the north of the Witwaters hill range, is well established, its streets lined with older trees. Most of its homes are modern, the original 'gardens' probably subdivided to make way for the boom of latter years.

Pretoria Gardens lies immediately opposite the Tshwane University of Technology with easy access on to E'skia Mphahlele Drive. It is a mere fourteen minutes' drive to the centre of Pretoria with access to many attractions like Paul Kruger House, the Transvaal Museum, the State Theatre, the Pretoria Zoo and the Union Buildings.