Bloeiende Boksburg

I am highly amused by the fact that a vintage poster exists promoting my hometown of Boksburg as a tourist destination.

Bloeiende is Afrikaans for blooming

Don’t get me wrong. I had a very happy childhood and will always have a place in my heart devoted to Boksburg… but a tourist destination it is not!   The history of Boksburg is somewhat interesting, in a very dry, factual sort of a way.  Originally, Boksburg was laid out in 1887 to serve the surrounding gold mines.  In 1888 coal deposits were discovered right on the boundary of the new town, and here coal was first mined in the Transvaal province.  Enterprises of all kinds were set up and Boksburg began to emerge from a mining camp atmosphere to a fully-fledged town.  Coal ensured that the gold mining industry would grow to a formidable size.  Coal mining came to an end in 1895 after underground fires broke out, rendering the entire mining area unsafe.  Gold mining is still carried out to this day.

Immediately to the north of Boksburg was a large muddy vlei (Afrikaans: wetland) fed by a small stream.  This vlei was the only watering place for stock between Middelburg and Johannesburg and the government wanted to improve watering facilities and it was decided to build a small dam.  The work was not proceeding satisfactorily, so Montague White, Mining Commissioner of the Boksburg Goldfields, was asked by President Kruger to look into the matter.  White said soon after arriving in Boksburg that the place was one of the “most uninviting spots” he had ever seen.

White was able to persuade a reluctant President to build a larger dam than was originally planned as he visualised the ugly vlei being transformed into a beautiful lake fringed with trees.  However, after completion, the new lake stood empty and became known as “White’s folly.”  Then, two years after its completion, a flash food filled the lake.  Ever since then (except, perhaps, in recent years) it has been a popular and attractive feature of the city of Boksburg.

A day at Boksburg Lake, circa 1920

As for Boksburg today, I wonder what would pass as tourist attractions.  The lake is obviously still there, right across the road from the Kingdom Hall in fact.   One of the largest malls in the province is in Boksburg – the East Rand Mall boasts great shopping and dining.  And it’s well-located, only 20 minutes from O.R. Tambo/ Johannesburg International Airport.  There’s also a water park called Wild Waters and a bowling alley and skating rink called the Fun Factory.  One of my favorite places as a kid was the Bokkie Park.  It's a fairly large park with bunnies and other tame animals roaming free and a large aviary of birds you can walk through.


The East Rand Mall

And that’s about it.  I hope you’re not too heartbroken that a visit to 'Bloeiende Boksburg' is not on our itinerary for December!