George Heritage Trust concerned about the conservation of historic assets

GEORGE NEWS - With the celebration of Heritage Day this Saturday, 24 September, the George Heritage Trust wants to express concern about the conservation of the city's historic assets.

Chairperson Henry Paine speaks on behalf of the trust:

There were only eight towns in South Africa before our city of George was established in 1811. In the preceding 40+ years of settlement, the area was occupied by farms. The town itself was established in 1811 with Pacaltsdorp being established as a mission station shortly after, in 1813.

As Heritage Day approaches, we have to ask ourselves how important the face of our city is and how we should protect those aspects that make up the character of the city – our memory and identity.

What is it about our city that makes it a place people appreciate and want to live in? We are living in a period of urban expansion and these are questions that we must think carefully about.

With the influx of more people, and a developer-driven world, we should make sure that we don't lose those aspects that we value. We must ensure that all the people of George, in every community, benefit from what we call our heritage.

We know from the experience of other towns around the world that are (or in some cases, were) endowed with natural beauty and architectural gems, that steady population growth too easily results in the destruction of the very assets that drew people there in the first place.

What is important to your community?

If we are to conserve our assets, we need to know what they are and we need to understand what all our communities believe is important. To do this, we have to ask them. The George Heritage Trust is working to ensure that we do know what these assets are and that we put in place the necessary protection for them.

The trust is presently completing an asset register for Pacaltsdorp with a significant input from the community itself. When completed, this will ensure that what the community values is protected.

The asset register must then be expanded to take in the whole of greater George. It is a massive task which we believe will be financially and substantially supported by the municipality.

Our city's most obvious assets are our historic buildings, but there is much more of our heritage to conserve; both tangible and intangible. For example:

Views and vistas, including the way people see the town when they arrive.
The relationship the town of George has to its context.
The protection of the natural environment that has come to be known as the Garden Route.

We are fortunate to have a functional municipality; one of the best run in South Africa. Despite that, our heritage is not receiving the protection that it needs and deserves. It is up to us, the citizens, to ensure that the municipality understands what is important to us.

Even the best run municipality needs active citizens and we owe it to our children and future generations to make sure that what we value is not destroyed.

Of course development is inevitable and of course the area will change, but let's not allow changes to destroy what we value. Let the interests of us, the citizens, win the day over indifferent developers.

The current state of the old Magistrate's house. Photo: D Schultz

A few examples of what we are losing or have lost:

The entrances to George where we have come to know green agricultural land framing the first views of the town with the mountains behind, welcoming visitors, is soon to be replaced by acres of housing north of the N2, east of Kraaibosch.
The mall has simultaneously destroyed much of the financial viability of the CBD, as well as what was a beautiful gateway to the city.
The distinguished old Magistrate's house in Davidson Road has been allowed, by the National Department of Public Works, to be vandalised despite the department, as owner, being warned for years of the danger to it.

There are many more examples.

The George Heritage Trust aims to protect and conserve our heritage. We are in need of people to assist us, particularly with regard to heritage and architectural skills, legal assistance and fundraising.

If you are able to assist, please contact us at thegeorgeheritagetrust@gmail.com.

People say that you only value what you have once you have lost it. Let's make sure that George doesn't lose what it has. We've lost too much already.

The old Magistrate's house circa 2010. Photo: Lynne Thompson, George Museum