- 011 465 9196
- bev@lra.org.za
For a community to thrive, a critical level of participation, involvement, responsibility, and commitment is essential. Lonehill is one of the rare suburbs worldwide that has reached this level to some degree, but there’s still room for more. Your support and involvement are crucial to maintaining and improving the success of our beautiful environment.
Lonehill’s rich history traces back to its origins as part of two farms, Zevenfontein and Rietfontein, registered in 1896. In 1934, Simon Notten, a Dutchman married to Anna Wierda, daughter of Sytze Wierda, the architect for President Paul Kruger, discovered a unique koppie, then known as Bobbejaanskranz. Captivated by its distinctive beauty, Notten purchased the two farms and combined them into a single property, which he named Lonehill. At the time, the government was quarrying granite rock from the base of the Koppie for construction purposes, but Notten halted these activities to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Today, a substantial pile of square granite blocks remains as a testament to this era.
In 1937, Simon’s son John Notten moved to Lonehill, where the original mud and timber farmhouse stood. The family used local granite to extend and modernize the house. Simon Notten also owned Atholl House, located in the suburb of Atholl, on a sprawling 100-acre property. This house was considered a design by the renowned architect Herbert Baker. The farm was home to 5,000 fruit trees and was mainly known for its high-quality peaches. Over time, Notten divided his estate into two parts: Atholl and Wierda Valley, which are now suburbs north of Johannesburg. Notten is also believed to have built a Wilgendal house in Wierda Valley.
Atholl House was famously described by early Johannesburg resident Juliet Marais Louw in her book “Wagon-tracks and Orchards – Early Days in Sandton.” She admired the house for its design, noting, “Sunlight flickered through small panes; the great sitting room had a vaulted ceiling and huge, oak beams, a wide stone fireplace with low seats and above it the bookshelves. The dining room had a great teak overmantel and china cabinets were built into the alcoves. Almost every room had a fireplace with blue, orange or white tiles.” Unfortunately, Atholl House was eventually demolished.
Anna Notten was known for holding services in the lounge of Atholl House, where she would read from a Dutch translation of sermons by Reverend Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a prominent 19th-century Baptist preacher. Her vision led to the creation of the Sandown Union Church in nearby Sandton. With the help of relatives who donated land and contributed to construction, Anna built the church. The supervising builder, MCA Meischke, crafted the pulpit in his Braamfontein workshop. Opened in 1925 by Johannesburg’s mayor, E.O. Leake, the church was interdenominational, with services conducted alternately in English and Afrikaans. Today, it stands on Stella Street in Sandton, a small, charming whitewashed A-frame amidst modern office buildings and flats, a sight to behold.
Simon and Anna Notten are buried in a peaceful area below the Lonehill Koppie alongside Philemon Rasebitse, their coachman. Rasebitse, who previously worked for architect Wierda before the Anglo-Boer War, joined the Notten household afterwards. He fondly called Anna “Marikasaan,” meaning “planter of trees.” Rasebitse requested to be buried next to the Nottens and was honoured with a dignified funeral. Anna’s legacy of planting trees still lives on in Atholl and Wierda Valley, where some gum and pine trees she planted continue to thrive.
The presence of the Notten Family is still deeply felt in the Lonehill Kopie. The farmhouse they expanded has been replaced by townhouse developments, but remnants such as a water tank and the graveyard serve as enduring reminders of Lonehill’s storied past, connecting us to the enduring legacy of the Notten family.
The Lonehill Koppie, a unique natural landmark that provides a fascinating glimpse into the area’s pre-settlement landscape, characterized by rocky veld, small streams, shrubs, small trees, and knee-high grasses. A habitat for guinea fowl and porcupines, the Koppie is also home to numerous dassies. Adjacent to it, about 200 meters north, lies Lonehill Loch, a charming small dam that residents often visit for leisurely walks.
The Koppie primarily comprises large, ancient boulders known as tor rocks. These room-sized boulders, surrounded by trees and indigenous shrubs, create an impressive and somewhat overwhelming sight on the short hike to the summit. Despite the encroachment of modern townhouse developments right up to its borders, the Koppie maintains its natural charm and significance.
Spanning approximately 20 acres, Lonehill Koppie rises around 80 meters high and is fenced and locked, but open to the public on weekends for hiking from 06h00 – 18h00. This area holds significant historical importance due to the presence of three Stone Age furnaces located in the veld below. These furnaces, excavated in the 1960s by Professor Revil Mason, a former head of archaeology at Wits University, are estimated to date back to around 1600. Mason reburied the furnaces to protect them due to a lack of funding for development and preservation, underscoring their historical value.
Artefacts such as bits of slag and large flat rocks bearing indentations used for grinding have been discovered near the furnaces. Additionally, a fenced area nearby indicates the presence of an ancient pottery manufacturing site. Halfway up the Koppie, remnants of stone walls hint at the living areas and kraals of early pastoral communities.
The Lonehill Koppie remains a cherished natural and historical treasure for residents and visitors alike, a testament to the community’s shared responsibility for its preservation.
Lonehill is a suburb with a remarkable level of community achievement. The Lonehill Residents Association is arguably the most active residents association in South Africa.
(011) 465 9196
(011) 467 2868
078 090 2307
Unit 81 Studio Office Park 5 Concourse Crescent, Lonehill
Copyright @ 2024 Lonehill Residents Association | View Privacy Policy | View Terms & Conditions | Designed by Page Panther