Sir George gravesite restored following vandalism
The information stone was chipped away for its valuable cast iron plaque and the metal cross affixed to the wall behind the grave was smashed into metal shards. The St Andrew's Heritage Foundation would like to thank Hawley Marble and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The gravesite of Sir George Farrar, on Milner Avenue, has been restored following the vandalism that occurred in 2013.
Hawley Marble and Granit donated the replacement stones at the gravesite.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission donated the inscription on the stones as well as painting the gates and tending to the damaged areas of the gravesite.
“The gravesite of Sir George has always been tended to and looked after by the St Andrew’s Heritage Foundation. In November, the entire area was set alight by vandals and the fire brigade had to be called out twice to attend to the blaze,” said Ms Bev Smith, from the St Andrew’s Heritage Foundation.
The information stone was chipped away for its valuable cast iron plaque and the metal cross affixed to the wall behind the grave was smashed into metal shards. The St Andrew’s Heritage Foundation would like to thank Hawley Marble and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission,” said Ms Bev Smith.
Sir George was a mining magnate and landlord during the days of early Johannesburg. He was the leader of the Opposition Party in the Transvaal Legislative Assembly from 1907 to 1910, a member of the First Parliament of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1915 and the Chairman of the Chamber of Mines at the time of his death in 1915.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) has offered to erect fencing around the entrance to the nature reserve where the gravesite is situated. The heritage site is due to become part of the new upgrade of the Linksfield Ridge Project.
