The Competition
The terms of the competition were published in the local newspapers.
Anna Smith in "Johannesburg Street Names" uses the 21 August 1903
edition of the Transvaal Critic as her source. Among all the hupla of
the announcement of the competition, there some interesting facts
pertaining to the new suburb. Remember that the African Realty Trust
(ART) did not yet own the land.
- The new suburb was initially given the temporary name "New
Parktown" until the competition had determined its new name.
- "The proposed New Township is situated within less than 5 miles
[about 6.5 km] of the Market Square, in the direct line of growth and
development of Johannesburg's most aristocratic suburbs."
- "It is within a short drive of Parktown, outside of and and
adjoining the beautiful 'Herman Eksteen Park.' (Sachsen Wald) a
recent princely gift to the City for a Public Park and Zoo."
- "We may add that the proposed New Suburb is in the immediate
proximity of Rosebank and the adjoining Parktown North."
- "Beyond it are the suburbs of Melrose, Dunkeld, Illovo, Hyde Park,
Inanda, Parkmore, Craighall, Sandhurst and others too numerous to
mention."
- "To well informed people in the vicity of Johannesburg, the New
Suburb needs no introduction. Its unique reputation of beauty and
healthfulness is sverywhere recognised."
- "Situated on the slope of the northern portion of the Farm
Braamfontein, over-looking both the Herman Eksteen Park [now the Zoo],
Fuchs Park [now Pirates Club], Geldenhuys Estate [now Greenside and
Emmarentia] and Parktown, it enjoys a climate essentially different
from and superior to that of any other suburb."
- "The soil itself is rich and fertile. Farms supplying Johannesburg
markets have occupied its area from the days of the early settlers to
the present time."
- "In point of accessibility the "New Suburb" will offer every
advantage to those whose business requires residence near the budiness
centre [downtown Johannesburg/CBD]."
- "Situated as it is, within the Municipal Boundary, quick
communication will be afforded by the proposed Municipal Electric
Tramways."
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[click on the map to enlarge]
The surrounding suburbs in the vicinity
of Parkhurst in 1903. Note how, in 2 years, many new suburbs
had appeared since the 1901 map above.
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Summary of the Competition
The competition was launched on 21 August 1903 and ran for 26 days
until 15 September. 11,823 entries were received from all over South
Africa and the neighbouring colonies. The judges then took a month to
consider the entries before decalring the new name on 15 October
1903.
The best summary of the competition is in the Star on 15 October
1903:
"It will be remembered that some time little ago the African Realty
Trust, having the new suburb, which had hitherto been known as the New
Parktown, adjoining Herman Eckstein Park, to dispose of, hit upon the
novel idea of offering a considerable sum of money in prizes to the
person or persons who suggested the most suitable and appropriate name
for the township.
The total amount offered was £300 divided as follows: £100 to be
given to the winner or winners; another £100 for the winner or winners,
who, whilest the competition lasted, visited the suburb; and the third
£100 to the winner or winners who had purchased stands in the
township.
As the prizes were tempting, the competition attracted considerable
attention, and the judges appointed to select the winners, Messrs. J.W.
Quinn, A Rogaly and D.Holt, had to deal with no fewer than 15,000
coupons [note that this is a mistake - they probably meant to say
12,000 as the official reportback stated 11,823 entries] in the
performance of the duty that they had undertaken. After much study and
careful consideration, they selected from the very numerous suggestions
'Parkhurst' as the name for the new suburb, on the ground that it
seemed to them the most appropriate, because of its "euphony,
comparative brevity, and general fitness to the locality."
49 people suggested "Parkhurst" and they equally divide the first
£100 getting £2.0s.10d. Six of them possessed visitors' coupons,
and get an additional £16.13s.4d. Only one of the successful
competitors qualified for the third £100, viz., Mr. A.E. Adams, or
Beresford Building, who gets £118.14s.2d. The five competitors in
addition to Mr. Adams who possessed visitors' coupons were: Mrs. Ralph
Davis, Johannesburg; Mr. A. Ogden, Doornfontein; Mr. Wm. Witton,
Potchefstroom; Mr. D. Bostwick, Braamfontein, and Mr. Gilbert Wood,
Germiston.
Amongst such a legion of suggestions as were sent in, there were, of
course many other appropriate, and even beautiful names; and there were
also many which were unpronounceable, and even ridiculous. Public
men came in for a lot of attention, Lord Milner's name, in a variety of
forms, being suggested by something like 200 competitors; while others
rung the changes on the names of the judges, Quinntown, Rogalyburg and
Holtville being amoungsr the attempts to appeal to the sympathy of the
judges. On the whole the jusdges are to be congratulated on having
selected perhaps the best name for the suburb, and one which should not
give much trouble at the G.P.O. [General Post Office].
The Judges
The three judges were all newly appointed city councillors in the new
city council that was instituted in Johannesburg after the Boer
War. To honour them after the naming competition, three
streets in Parkhurst were named after them.
- John William Quinn. Born Manchester, England in 1864 & arrived
in South Africa in 1889. Died 1916. Mayor 1905-06. He was a well known
master baker.
- Alfred Rogaly. Born 1863 in Whitby, England & came to
Johannesburg in 1889. In 1903 he was a town councillor and financial
agent.
- David Holt. Born 1857 in Hull, England & came to South Africa
in 1876 as a jeweller. In Johannesburg he was the owner of a cigar
factory. He was a councillor in Johannesburg from 23 May to 9 December
1903.
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Some of the names submitted to the competion:
Ping Pongville, Ping Pong Park, Santa Clause Grove, Tennistown,
Comfort Centre, Just Right, Lover's Paradise, Klondike, Real
Investment, Johannesburg Continued, Young Johannesburg City, Lovely
Place to Live, Ideal Pioneer Enterprise Park, Metropolitan and Rural
Home, Residents Grassy Paradise.
Judges Report: 15 October 1903
We, the Committee chosen to select a permanent name for the New
Suburb wish to state that, after considerable study and careful
consideration, the name of "PARKHURST" has seemed, upon the whole, the
most appropriate because of its euphony, comparative brevity, and
general fitness to the lacality. Situated on the farm Braamfontein, the
Sachsen Wald (Saxon Hurst, English translation) as its South Eastern
boundary, and immediately adjoining the Herman Eckstein Park, we feel
that a suitable local character will thus be stamped upon the suburb of
Johannesburg.
Signed
J.W. Quinn, A. Rogally, D. Holt
Definitions
brevity: concise epression, terse.
euphony: agreable in sound / pleasing to the
ear.
hurst: hillock, knoll, mound, grove.
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