Bedfordview, Gauteng
| Bedfordview | |
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 Bedfordview
Bedfordview
Bedfordview
Bedfordview shown within Gauteng
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| Coordinates: 26°10′46″S 28°08′10″E / 26.17944°S 28.13611°ECoordinates: 26°10′46″S 28°08′10″E / 26.17944°S 28.13611°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng |
| Municipality | Ekurhuleni |
| Established | 1926 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.07 km2 (4.27 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 13,959 |
| • Density | 1,300/km2 (3,300/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 23.2% |
| • Coloured | 1.7% |
| • Indian/Asian | 7.7% |
| • White | 63.9% |
| • Other | 3.3% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 69.6% |
| • Afrikaans | 7.5% |
| • Zulu | 4.0% |
| • Northern Sotho | 2.2% |
| • Other | 16.6% |
| Postal code (street) | 2007 |
| PO box | 2008 |
Bedfordview is an affluent town on the East Rand, which is situated in Gauteng, South Africa. Bedfordview has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since 2000. The Eastgate shopping centre is located here.
Although the area around Bedfordview had been inhabited by black natives for hundreds of years, the written history of the area commenced with the arrival of white settlers in the 19th Century.
The site of Bedfordview was largely taken up by the farm Elandsfontein, and was administered as part of the District of Potchefstroom in the South African Republic. The coat-of-arms of Bedfordview features an Eland holding a fountain as a tribute to the early rural history of the town.
The Witwatersrand Gold Reef had a huge impact on the area. Elandsfontein was purchased for the mineral rights, and was later divided into smaller farms and small-holdings, many of which were settled by retired miners. The entire area became known as Geldenhuis Estates Smallholdings.
One of these farms was owned by Sir George Herbert Farrar, a randlord who played a prominent role in planning the infamous Jameson Raid, one of the main causes of the Second Anglo-Boer War. His farm, Bedford, was located in the present-day suburb of St Andrews, and parts of the original farm can still be seen in St Andrews' School. The farm itself was named after Sir Farrar's home-town of Bedford in England. Apparently the raid itself was planned in a small house close to the farm. Sir George is buried in Milner Ave, close to the school, the only official grave in the town.
During the war, British cavalry was based in Bedfordview and apparently planted the oak trees along Van Buuren Ave. There is also a legend that an Indian Rajah-based with the unit died and was buried somewhere in Bedfordview in full regalia, including his jewel-encrusted sword.
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Wikipedia