Walking through history

MELVILLE – A resident and former history lecturer shares Melville's history.

February 13, 2018

Roxy de Villiers 1 minute read

Nel Redelinghuys shows a photo of an old Melville structure.

Nel Redelinghuys took the Northcliff Melville Times and Melville residents on an educational walking tour of Melville.

Redelinghuys is a former history lecturer and hosts walking tours of Melville, highlighting the area’s history and what makes it unique. She said while her specific area is history, she occasionally dabbles in architecture and showed residents iconic Melville architecture.

Melville Marigolds have been planted for the area’s most beautiful sidewalk competition.

The tour is held on the last Sunday of each month with the most recent being 28 January when Northcliff Melville Times joined in. The tour started from Redelinghuys’ home near one of the Melville Koppies where she told of how her twin sons grew up with fence-free koppies.

The rest of the tour included visits to Melville’s churches and schools. She explained that for a small area, Melville holds its own when it comes to churches as it boasts eight functioning ones.

Nel Redelinghuys explained that each of Melville’s 7th Street shops used to sell a service or product while functioning as an old-time mall.

The view from a section of the Melville Koppies.

Nel Redelinghuys explains Melville’s old tram system.

The tour went through Melville’s iconic 7th Street. Redelinghuys explained that Main Street is Melville’s main street, but 7th Street is Melville’s most popular street, so it becomes somewhat of a main street among locals.

Nel feels that neither should be considered the main street because 4th Avenue connects Main and 7th. It’s the road you have to drive to get in or out of the area.

The tour concluded with Redelinghuys showing Northcliff Melville Times and residents Melville’s public stairway shortcuts which take residents to a hidden Melville Koppies entrance.