Rector's House - Potchefstroom

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Aka: House Calderbank

Built: 1942

Architect: Unidentified (Hugh Roberts?)

Status: Extant

Location: 1 Calderbank Avenue, Potchefstroom

Source: Die Wapad (1965)

Timeline

Notes

The house was originally built for Mr Hugh Calderbank in 1942.

  • Hugh William Hersey Calderbank (1908 England - 1972) was a businessman, city councillor and served on public boards. He emigrated to South Africa in 1930. He was mayor of Potchefstroom in 1940-1 and 1946-7. He owned Calderbank's Garage at 104 King Edward (now Walter Sisulu) St.

In 1961 Prof Wikus du Plessis suggested that the house be bought by PU to be used as rector's house and / or guesthouse / accommodation for senior students.

"Die tyd om te koop is nou, aangesien ek spoedig belangrike prysstyginge verwag o.a. vanweë die vinding van goud dig ten Noorde van Potchefstroom, asook ‘n waarskynlike verbetering in politieke toestande en ‘n moontlike devaluasie altans van die pond sterling.” (Du Plessis, 1961)

  • Lodewicus Johannes du Plessis (1897 Burgersdorp - 1968 Potchefstroom) married Engela Susanna van der Merwe (1900-1969) in 1926. He was a highly influential South African academic, legal scholar, and economist. He received his MA (Classical languages), a master's degree in economics, as well as an LL.B. (law degree). He was referred to as "the prophet of Potchefstroom". In later years he focused on law. He was secretary to the commission who translated the Bible in Afrikaans and was an advisor to Totius.

The house appears to have only been purchased by PU in 1965 though. It was used as the rector's house and guest house since then. The first rector to inhabit the house was Prof Hennie Bingle.

  • Hendrik Johannes Jacob Bingle (1910 Colesburg - 2007) married Anna Susanna (Santjie) de Klerk (? - 1981) in 1936. He was a teacher and later worked at the State Archives. He then completed a PhD and was Dean of the Education Dpt from 1951-62. He was PU rector from 1964-1977, Chancellor from 1981-1991, and chairman of the Afrikaans Calvinist Movement.


Source: Fletch54 on Wikimedia Commons (2012)

Location

House in centre. (Google Maps, 2026)

Sources

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