Hoër Volkskool - Heidelberg (Gauteng)

Established: 1915

Built: 1919-1922

Architect: Unidentified, possibly Public Works Department?

Building contractor: Mr Johannes Stephanus Joubert (1870-1949)

Status: Extant

Source: Hoër Volkskool

Photo 1935. Source: Transnet Heritage Library.

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Timeline

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The Hoër Volkskool Heidelberg was formally established in January 1915 when the middle and secondary sections of the original Volkskool were separated from the primary (Laer) section. The new high school initially shared buildings and grounds with the Laer Volkskool, which sometimes created space constraints. Mr A.J. Louw served as its first headmaster (he also acted temporarily as head of the Laer Volkskool in the early transition period). The first permanent headmaster of the Laer Volkskool after the split was Mr D.C. Cronjé (1916-1919).

Official opening in 1922.

Growth was rapid. By 1920 the combined Volkskool system already had 515 pupils, and the Hoër section quickly developed into one of the prominent high schools in the Transvaal. A new, purpose-built school for approximately 400 pupils was completed on Opvoedingsbult. On Wednesday 1 February 1922 the high-school pupils held their final farewell assembly in the Monument Hall of the old Volkskool. The official opening of the new building took place on 3 May 1922, with the children from both the high and junior schools marching from Market Square to the new premises. The cornerstone had been laid on 8 September 1919 by Mr A.G. Robertson, Administrator of the Transvaal.

Crest (1922)

Boarding facilities for Hoër Volkskool pupils predated the school itself. The first hostel, Transvalia, was already in use by 1913 - two years before the high school was formally established. In February 1911 architect Mr Wynand Louw of Paarl was commissioned to design it; the building was officially opened on 13 February 1913. When a second boys’ hostel was proposed, the request was initially turned down in October 1914 because of the country’s financial difficulties after the 1914 Rebellion. It was later approved, and the cornerstone of Concordia was laid on 22 April 1916. The hostel accommodated 83 boys and three teachers at a cost of £7 791. Both Transvalia and Concordia were enlarged in 1918-1919. The third hostel, Excelsior (originally a house on the Vereeniging Road known by that name since 1912), was taken over and expanded under hostel father Mr D.J.M. Jordaan. A new purpose-built Excelsior was completed in 1924 at a cost of £10 820, accommodating 90 boys; Wynand Louw was again the architect and Mr J.S. Joubert the builder.

All three hostels - Transvalia, Concordia and Excelsior - were owned by the church and leased to the Education Department. By 1950 the Hoër Volkskool had 28 teachers and continued strong growth in the preceding decade. In 1959 the church board decided to sell the ageing properties to the Province. The old hostels were eventually demolished, and the names were transferred to new provincial hostels erected in 1965 on the former Concordia and Excelsior sites. The town library now stands on the ground once occupied by the original Transvalia hostel.

Today the school still cares for the historic sandstone pulpit that was removed from the Klipkerk to make way for a wooden one. A new hall and administration block was added in 1990, and visitors can still notice the slightly different shade of bricks at the rear of the building where later extensions were made.

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Locality map

 

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Sources

1. Lotz, P.W. (1952) Geskiedenis van die Ontwikkeling van die Onderwys aan Blankes in die Distrik Heidelberg, Transvaal van 1839 to 1950. (thesis)
2. Hoër Volkskool Koshuis on FB
3. Ons Skoolblad, 1922.
4. Dr. A.E. Faul Bosman. (n.d.) Pro Deo Et Patria.