#Flobird

ALL WRITINGS

I have a BA HED (Higher Education Diploma), and a Tesol English 2nd Language Diploma. I have over 22 years’ teaching experience, and over 15 years’ writing experience, as a journalist in Johannesburg. For the past 3 years I have conducted tours of Joburg.

And when I’m not teaching or writing or conducting tours, I'll be taking in the Joburg vibes and events - it may be a book launch, an art exhibition opening, a touch of jazz, a talk on intriguing stuff . . . there's always something happening in this town, where I have lived for the past 36 years.

Come along on the journey with me - let's have fun exploring English and the city!

lucilledavie

Jun 25, 2019

Heritage hooray for Rand Steam

A big “Hooray!” should echo across Joburg for the historic Rand Steam site in Richmond, which has risen from the destruction of Imperial’s mindless bulldozers 11 years ago. This joy stems from the fact that the original 1902 Rand Steam Laundries & Cleaning & Dyeing Works has been largely reconstructed as a small neighbourhood shopping centre, in a unique first for Joburg, and possibly South Africa. It boasts the original streetscape, with the buildings created for adaptive re

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lucilledavie

Feb 19, 2012

St Alban’s Church breathes again

The pigeon droppings in the St Alban’s Anglican Church turret were so thick and toxic that, when conducting restoration work on the church, the building foreman was forced to go home, see his doctor and take a day off. The droppings have accumulated over years, posing a serious health risk because they dry out and the dust becomes airborne, carrying diseases like salmonella, meningitis, and lung infections. Once scaffolding was in place, the droppings were manually removed. O

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lucilledavie

Apr 8, 2011

Restored Barbican looks glorious

After 16 long years of neglect, Old Mutual can take a bow for restoring the dignity of the splendid Barbican, one of the city’s iconic buildings. The 80-year-old, 10-storey building looks glorious, basking in the renewal of its freshly cleaned exterior, and floor after floor of new concrete screed floors, sparkling white walls, and restored balconies. “We see the Barbican refurbishment as the latest of the many strides over the last decade which have firmly turned the inner c

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lucilledavie

Mar 31, 2010

Wanooka a grand old place again

The restored Wanooka in Parktown has had a strong association over the years with engineers and general managers of the South African Railways and Harbours (SAR & H). But it’s accountants and auditors who have given it a new breath of life. The house, built in 1902, was constructed for Henry Smith Greenwood, who was the resident engineer of the central division of the Central South African Railways. He lived in the Tudor-gabled Edwardian mansion for six years, until 1908, whe

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lucilledavie

Mar 9, 2006

Richmond laundry site saga

The 104-year-old Rand Steam Laundry site in Richmond was recently sold and the new owners plan to redevelop the site. The historic four-acre site is now a ramshackle collection of light-industrial businesses, most located in the old buildings but others in additions to the original village in Napier Road. The new owners are Imperial Properties. They bought the site from the Amoils brothers, property owners of buildings in the CBD. John Carstens, MD of Imperial Properties, say

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lucilledavie

Mar 23, 2004

Hollard saves Arcadia and gets the best view around

Lionel Phillips would surely approve of the new developments at his former mansion, Villa Arcadia, in Parktown. The house and property of 16 acres of prime real estate has been bought by Hollard Insurance and is to be developed into their future office complex with a careful balance between heritage and modern use. And in the process, the mansion, designed by Herbert Baker, and believed to be his practice run for the Union Buildings in Pretoria, is to be saved from almost cer

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lucilledavie

Oct 4, 2002

Flo Bird – Joburg’s diminutive dynamite

“Don’t ask me dates,” says Flo Bird, amateur historian and fiery 1,56m (five foot) tall campaigner for preserving old Johannesburg. Bird, 59, lives in the house she was born in, in Parktown, jam-packed with interesting items, hundreds of books and wonderful artworks. She is “descended from Johannesburg pioneers”, and finds it “very exciting” to live in the city. For 30 years she has been actively involved in researching the history of the city and promoting the preservation o

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lucilledavie

Dec 14, 2001

South Africa’s last coppersmith

South Africa's only coppersmith is not passing on his skills to anyone and is considering giving up the craft in the next five to 10 years. “South Africans don’t appreciate crafts,” says 40-year-old Larry de Klerk, a fourth generation coppersmith operating out of the wood and iron garage attached to a house in Currey Street, Doornfontein, which was declared a national monument in 1990. He says he is the only coppersmith in the country. “Copper is alive and with it you can put

173 views

ALL WRITINGS

Heritage hooray for Rand Steam

St Alban’s Church breathes again

Restored Barbican looks glorious

Wanooka a grand old place again

Richmond laundry site saga

Hollard saves Arcadia and gets the best view around

Flo Bird – Joburg’s diminutive dynamite

South Africa’s last coppersmith

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