Port Elizabeth - Suburbs And Townships

Names Of Suburbs And Townships In Port Elizabeth

Sir Rufane Donkin (1773-1841)

Rufane Donkin was given the task of organising the 1820 Settlers in Port Elizabeth. He was officially the first governor of Port Elizabeth from the 6 June 1820 - 1821. He married Elizabeth Markham in Yorkshire who travelled with him to India where she became seriously ill and died in August 1818 after their first son George David was born. Sir Rufane Donkin built a memorial to his wife Elizabeth known as the Donkin Memorial on top of a hill above the city center and named the city, Port Elizabeth, in her memory.

ADCOCKVALE

• After Walter Clement Adcock, City Councilor from 1928 and Mayor, 1936/7.

ALGOA BAY

• The name of the settlement before it became Port Elizabeth in 1820. It still retained this name in shipping circles until quite recently.

ALGOA PARK

• From Algoa Bay. Formerly known as "Northdowns" and used as a military camp in World War 2. It was developed to provide housing for returned servicemen

AMSTERDAM HOEK

• After the Dutch man-of-war "Amsterdam" which was wrecked just north of the Swartkops River mouth in 1817

ARCADIA

• Arcadia South and Arcadia North are Extensions 12 and 13 of Bethelsdorp. A popular name for suburbs in South Africa, deriving from the traditionally peaceful region of ancient Greece.

BENKAMMA

• A portmanteau word from Bendor Properties Ltd., the developers, and Kragga Kamma where the township is situated.

BETHELSDORP

• Founded by Dr. Johannes Theodorus van der Kemp as a London Missionary Society station on land granted to him in 1803. BETHEL the house of God, DORP, a village.

BEVERLEY GROVE

• Named by Bendor Properties Ltd. Beverley is a town in Yorkshire.

BLOEMENDAL

• Named after the farm on which the Coloured township is being developed.

BLUEWATER BAY

• The name was chosen by Mr. H. Weinronk, the developer. Over­ looks the Bay

BOASTVILLE

• After Charles Trevor Boast, a former Bantu Administration Manager.

BRAMHOPE

• The name of the farm on which the township was developed.

BROADWOOD

• The name of Charlo Extension No. 7. Chosen merely as an attractive name.

CADLES

• After William Charles Cadle (1892-1943) who owned a butcher shop and property in the area.

CHARLO

• After Charles Lovemore. The Lovemore family owned most of the ground on which this township was laid out.

CHATTY

• After the Chatty River. The origin of the river's name is uncertain.

CLEARY ESTATE

• (Bethelsdorp Ext. No. 10). Named after Mr. D.J. Cleary, Director of Housing in Port Elizabeth.

COTSWOLD

• After the picturesque hill region in England. Named by Surveyor H.B. Smith.

DAN JOOSTE PARK

• After Rev. Dan Jooste, minister, teacher and member of the Coloured Vigilance Committee

DASSIE KRAAL

• Name of a farm. Dassie - rock rabbit; kraal - cattle pen.

DEAL PARTY ESTATE

• After a party of 1820 settlers from Deal, Kent, who established a fishery there.

DOWERVILLE

• After the Rev. William J. Dower (1837- 1919) who served the Coloured Community.

DRIFTSANDS

• A belt of driftsands once threatened the southern part of the city and the harbour but was stopped by the work of Joseph Storr Lister.

DUINEN

• An area between Walmer boundary and the sea. Old Dutch name for "dunes".

EASTBOURNE TOWNSHIP

• Named by the developer Mr. A.W. Pudney who lived in Eastbourne Road.

ELUNDINI

• From a Xhosa word meaning "looming on the horizon" signifying a new beginning.

EMERALD HILL

• From a farm granted to John O'Neal, an Irishman, in 1815, who named it in honour of the "Emerald Isle".

FAIRVIEW

• From the fact that there was a good view from this higher area of the region. Developed by the Fairview Suburban Estate Co. Formerly included Newton Park.

FERNGLEN

• Named from a kloof behind Parkin's farmhouse on the site of the estate.

FERGUSON TOWNSHIP

• After Dr. Duncan Ferguson former Medical Officer of Health for Port Elizabeth.

FOREST HILL

• Perhaps named from its proximity to the government forestry reserve.

FOWLER TOWNSHIP

• From the maiden name of the wife Mrs. A.W. Pudney, property developer.

FRANCIS EVATT PARK

• After Captain Francis Evatt, (1817-1847) Commandant at Fort Frederick, , who was largely responsible for the town's early development.

GELVANDALE

• After Mrs. C.M.S. Gelvan who has been a City Councillor since 1947.

GELVAN PARK

• Extension No. I I of Gelvandale. Extension

GELVAN SQUARE

• No. 9 of Gelvandale.

GILLETS

• Lorraine Ext. No. 28. Named by Mr. Strydom of Strydom, Basson & Tait after the name of a house of a friend in Natal, A Mr. Blaikie. Perhaps from the Scottish word meaning a woody glen.

GIPSONVILLE

• After Mrs. C.F. Gipson, a City Councillor elected in 1929.

GLEN HURD

• After Herbert Hurd, property developer, Town Councillor of Walmer and its Mayor 1922-1925.

GLENDINNINGVALE

• After Mr. John James Glendinning, a City Councillor for many years and Mayor in 1944/5

GOLDWATER

• Chosen by a member of a firm of attorneys who developed this township and who was an admirer of the unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency of the U.S.A. in 1964.

GREENSHIELDS PARK

• After Mr. William Greenshields Paterson, Mayor of Walmer 1950/51.

HART TOWNSHIP

• After George Thomas Hart, City Councillor, harbour official and a Captain in the Town Guard 1900-1902.

HILLSKRAAL

• A man named Hill once owned grazing land here about 1910.

HOLLAND PARK

• Mr. F.J. Holland a prominent public figure and businessman.

HOY TOWNSHIP

• After Thomas Hoy, a Walmer Councillor in 1922.

HUMEWOOD

• After William Hume, M.L.A., who was Chairman of the Harbour Board at the time the land was transferred from the Harbour · Board for development as a seaside resort.

IDYLWYLDE

• Named by Mr. C. Carter Jones who bought the land and named it after a residence owned by his wife's uncle on Lake Ontario.

JARMAN TOWNSHIP

• After W. Jarman, former Housing Manager in the City Health Department.

JUTLAND TOWNSHIP

• It is believed the township was thus named because of the shape of the property, jutting out like a promontory into the Baakens valley.

KABEGA PARK

• Kabega is the name of one of the two streams which unite to form the Baakens. Possibly from the Hottentot KA - abundance, and BEGA - red clay

KAKKERLAKSVLEI

• Named after Cupido Kakkerlak, a Bethelsdorp missionary who later went to Klaarwater (later Griquatown). Not from Afrikaans "Kakkerlak" - a cockroach.

KEMSLEY PARK

• After Mr. John Chambers Kemsley, M.B.E., Mayor , 1901-4 and 1916-18.

KENSINGTON

• After the London district of that name.

KLEINSKOOL

• A small school building was established here.

KORSTEN

• After Frederick Korsten, owner of Cradock Place estate and founder of a large commercial empire in this area, arriving here in 1810.

KRAGGA KAMMA

• A Hottentot name meaning "pebbly water".

KUNENE PARK

• Named after the South West African river.

KWA FORD

• Xhosa for "Ford Place", from the fact that an emergency hous­ing scheme was started, using wood from packing cases in which motor parts were imported

KWAZAKELE

• Xhosa for "place you build yourself '. This was started as a "site and service" scheme.

LEA PLACE

• After Mr. J.W. Lea, a Town Councillor from 1865 who helped the Coloured community.

LINGA LONGA

• Now named Woodlands. There was a tea garden here named after an old music-hall song.

LINKSIDE

• Adjoins the P.E. Golf Course.

LINTON GRANGE

• After Archibald Linton, M.P.C., City Councillor and Mayor in 1923/4.

LISTERWOOD

• Named in memory of Joseph Storr Lister. who arrested the drift­ sands.

LORRAINE

• Said to have been suggested by Mrs. Kyle wife of a surveyor. The streets in this area are named after French towns and famous French persons.

LOVEMORE HEIGHTS

• Once part of the property of the Lovemore family.

MALABAR

• Previously called Woolhope. An Indian township named after the Malabar coast in India.

MALATSKY VALLEY

• A Coloured housing scheme named after S. Malatsky, a grocer and draper in Durban Road.

MANGOLD PARK

• Named after James Mangold, a director of the Fairview Suburban Estate Co

MARAIS TOWNSHIP

• Named after Mr. Albertus B.G. Marais, Regional Representative of the National Housing and Planning Commission

MARCHANTDALE

• After Marchant Starr Davies, City Councillor, property developer and well-known sportsman.

MARKMAN TOWNSHIP

• After Alfred Markman, City Councillor and Mayor, 1958-60. An industrial township.

McLEANVILLE

• After James McLean , M.P., City Councillor from 1917 and Mayor 1938/9.

McNAMEE VILLAGE

• After J.P. McNamee , father of A.P. McNamee , Municipal Director of Bantu Affairs .

MILL PARK

• So called because a Mr. T.W. Gubb owned a mill there. It was formerly a native location known as Gubb's location.

MILLARD GRANGE

• After Henry John Millard, Mayor of Port Elizabeth in 1931.

MILNER TOWNSHIP

• Commemorates Lord Alfred Milner, British High Commissioner and Governor of the Cape Colony.

MIRAMAR

• From the Italian for "sea view".

MISSIONVALE

• A township in which streets are named after missionaries.

MOREGROVE

• A name given by Mr. W. Sprowson to his part of Willowby Farm. Previously Mount Road Township.

MOUNT CROIX

• There is a good view of St.Croix Island in the bay from here.

MOUNT PLEASANT

• A popular name for areas and residences. This property was the first developed by I.W. Schlesinger in Port Elizabeth. A farm of this name stood on the site.

NEAVE INDUSTRIAL TOWNSHIP

• After Mr. John S. Neave, M.B.E. J.P., Mayor of Walmer 1914-19 and of Port Elizabeth 1939 and 1946/7.

NEW BRIGHTON

• In 1877 the then Town Clerk of Port Elizabeth named it to honour the Mayor of Brighton in England. Chief Magistrate of Port Elizabeth William Charles Scully organised the building of "New Brighton", a township for African people in Port Elizabeth. At the time it was regarded as very progressive—a pleasant place to live.

NEWTON PARK

• First named Fairview but on objections from the Post Office it was changed to Newton Park. Two possibilities have been suggested - one, that it was a "new town" and, two, after the Newton brothers who had a large general dealer's business in Walmer Road and were noted for their charitable work'

NORTH END

• Obviously because it was the northern part of the town.

OVERBAAKEN

• "Across the Baakens (River)". The new name for the former Coloured area of Fairview.

PARI PARK

• Named by the manager of the developing company , Mr . A. Augoustatos, after his pet name for his wife.

PARK SIDE

• Gelvandale Ext. No. 10. Situated alongside a park.

PARSONS HILL

• After Mr. M.G. Parson, Municipal Land Surveyor, 1932-1950.

PARSONS VLEI

• Originally a glebe farm for the Anglican Church, hence its name.

PERRIDGEVALE

• After Major Frank Perridge, City Councillor from 1938 and Adjutant to Prince Alfred's Guard. Developed 1945/6 as an ex­ soldiers' housing scheme.

PRINCE NIKIWE TOWNSHIP

• Named after Philip Nikiwe, leading educationalist, member of the Bantu Advisory Board and a lay preacher.

REDHOUSE

• In the early days a Fisherman named Cook had a reed and mud cottage painted with red ochre. It was intended to call the village Henley Reach but the popular name prevailed.

RED LOCATION

• Now part of New Brighton. Probably so called because some of the Xhosa people wore red blankets as clothing.

RETIEFVILLE

• Named by the National Housing Board in honour of Piet Retief.

ROWALLAN PARK

• Named by Mr. Marchant Davies, probably after Lord Rowallan who was Chief Scout of the British Commonwealth from 1945 to 1959.

RUFANE VALE

• Named after Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin who named Port Elizabeth.

RUPERT'S HOPE

• The name given by Mr. Rupert G. Darlow to his part of Kabega Farm.

SALISBURY PARK

• Named in honour of Lord Salisbury, Victorian Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister.

SALSONEVILLE

• Bethelsdorp Ext. No. 15. Named after a Roman Catholic priest, Father Maxwell Salsone.

SALT LAKE

• Bethelsdorp Ext. No. 8. So called from its proximity to the salt pan.

SANCTOR

• Bethelsdorp Ext. No. 14. Probably a corruption of "sanctuary" from its proximity to a wild bird Sanctuary formerly called Varsvlei.

SANTA

• A health centre for the Coloured community. Derives its name from the S.A. Tuberculosis Association.

SCHAUDER TOWNSHIP

• Also known as SCHAUDERVILLE. Named after Adolph Schauder, City Councillor for 43 years, Mayor in 1940-41 and famous promoter of housing schemes for the underprivileged.

SCHOENMAKER'S KOP

• According to Harold Baydon Smith this was named after a vagrant who lived in a cave in this region.

SCOTSTOUN

• Named after James Scott, Mayor of Port Elizabeth 1929/30.

SIDWELL

• Named after Sidney Wells, an eminent property dealer. He left much of his property to the municipality after his death.

SOUTH END

• Obviously because this was the south end of the town. It was commonly referred to as "over the river".

SOUTHDENE

• Part of the Driftsands area, site of 42 Air School during World War II, and a sub-economic housing scheme after the war. "Dene" in English placenames implies "dune".

SPRINGDALE

• Gelvandale Ext. No. 5. There was a natural spring in this area.

SPRINGFIELD

• Township developed by a company on Bog Farm which belonged to Mr. Adam Guthrie, Mayor of P.E. 1912/15. Probably the name refers to the good supply of water on the farm.

ST. GEORGE'S STRAND

• Named by Mr. Sidney Wells, property developer.

STEYTLER TOWNSHIP

• From the maiden name of Winifred Adcock the wife of W.C. Adcock, City Councillor from 1928 and Mayor 1936/7

STRUANVILLE

• After Mr. I.E. Struan Robertson, City Councillor from 1948 and Meyer 1956/7

STUART TOWNSHIP

• After Mr. A.F. Stuart, a City Councillor from 1936.

SUMMERSTRAND

• Named by Mr. H.B. Smith, Surveyor. It had the reputation of being the calmest spot in the Bay.

SUNRIDGE PARK

• Named by Mr. W.E. Londt, owner of the property, after a place in Croydon, England.

SUTTON VALLANCE

• Named by Mr. Sidney Wells after the village in Kent from which he came. It is, however, misspelt. The English village is Sutton Valence.

SYDENHAM

• After a district in London. It was already known by this name in 1860 and may have been inspired by the Great Exhibition in Crystal Palace at Sydenham in 1851.

SWARTKOPS

• Village taking its name from the river. No satisfactory explanation of the origin of Swartkops has yet been found.

TAYBANK

• From the name of the farm on which the township was laid out.

THEESCOMBE

• Named by W.B. Frames in 1863 when he bought part of the farm Nooitgedacht. A "combe" is a moorland valley, a name used chiefly in south-west England.

THEMBALETU

• A Xhosa word meaning "our hope" and is the name of a housing scheme in New Brighton.

TREVOLEN TOWNSHIP

• Named by Mr. E. Poulter, owner of the land, for his three sons Leonard, Vernon and Trevor.

VAN DER STEL TOWNSHIP

• Named after two Governors of the Cape, Simon and Willem Adriaan van der Stel.

VEEPLAAS

• Cattle farm. Possibly owned by Frederick Korsten.

VIKING VALE

• Named by Karl Olsson who owned and developed the land. He came from Sweden.

WALMER

• Named by D. Macdonald, Government Surveyor, when the town­ ship was laid out on the farm Welgedacht in 1853. After Walmer Castle, seat of the Duke of Wellington as Warden of the Cinque Ports, who had recently died.

WELLS ESTATE

• Part of the land left to the municipality by Mr. Sidney Wells.

WEST END

• Extension No. 11 of Bethelsdorp.

WESTERING

• Named by Mr. Altman, Surveyor, because of its position in relation to the city,

WESTVIEW

• When the area was developed it had a clear unbroken view towards the west.

WEYBRIDGE PARK

• Named after the farm on which it was laid out. Weybridge is a town in Surrey, England.

WHITE LOCATION

• Now part of New Brighton. So called from the fact that the houses were painted white.

WILLOWDENE

• Named from the Port Jackson willows which grew there, combined with the old English word for dune.

WINTERSTRAND

• An extension of Summerstrand. The name is little used.

WOODLANDS

• Refers to its sylvan setting. Formerly LINGA-LONGA.

WOOLHOPE

• Now Malabar. The land was once owned by Carl Schady who had a woolwashery there. In old English place-names "hope" signifies a small enclosed valley.

YOUNGVILLE

• Formerly YOUNG TOWNSHIP, was named after John S. Young, longest-serving councillor, five times Mayor and Freeman of the city.

ZWIDE

• Named after Fairbridge Hansen Manchinger Zwide, former Principal of Bethelsdorp Coloured Primary School where he taught for 41 years.

  ---

Reference: Names Of Streets And Townships In Port Elizabeth

• by H.E. Meyer

(In 1976 Mr. H.E. Meyer completed his monumental survey of the origins of Port Elizabeth Street and district names, before leaving to settle in his native Germany. )

• As published in Looking Back June 1978. A Quarterly Bulletin of the Historical Society of Port Elizabeth, and transcribed by Donovan Penaluna
• Port Elizabeth’s Suburbs’ Names and their Derivation