MELVILLE
KOPPIES RESERVE & RENSBURG
Author:
A.M. van Rensburg (b4
c2 d1 e6 f5 g5 h3 i2)
Webmaster:
M.A. van Rensburg
(b4
c2 d1 e6 f5 g5 h3 i2 j1)
Back to home Back to Historical
The Koppies and the ground that is now West Park Cemetery, Marks Park and the Johannesburg Botanic Garden, originally part of the farm Braamfontein IR.53, was bought by the City Council after its owner, Frans Geldenhuys, died in 1929. Little attention was paid to the ridge known as Melville Koppies until 1947 when Councilor HMJ van Rensburg, alarmed by the rapid development of the neighbouring townships Greenside and Emmarentia, started to campaign for the proclamation of the eastern part of the Koppies as a nature reserve.
Dr E.R. Roux acted as its first chairman during the absence overseas of Professor N.P. Badenhuizen. Mr. V.L. Bishenden was elected honorary Secretary/Treasurer with Dr J.H. Strauss, Mr. N.H. Gilfillan, Mr. J.H. Hosken, Dr N.R. Smuts, Mr. A.O.D. Mogg, Councillor E. Turvey, Professor R.A. Dart and Dr I.M. Sturgess as committee members. Councilor H.J.M. van Rensburg was elected Honorary President in appreciation of his active interest in Melville Koppies, dating back to 1947 and his commitment in 1957 when representing the Melville - Emmarentia ward in the City Council, to getting the area proclaimed as a nature reserve.
Mr. H.J.M. van Rensburg has been called "Father of the Reserve" - rightly so because without his drive and enthusiasm the Koppies might never have been proclaimed as a reserve.
http://www.veld.org.za/Melville/master_plan_for_the_conservation.htm