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Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 1997-12 > 0881418840


From: Dave Glenister <>
Subject: VOGELFONTEIN
Date: Sat, 6 Dec 97 16:34 +0200


Peter Hanrick wrote ...

> Are the Vogelfonteins you refer to in existence today? I
> was only able to find Delmas in my Atlas as this was the only area that
> had a detailed map.
> I would be very grateful if you could help me with some more
> information on the area

Dear Peter

Someone posted something to this list about Vogelstruisfontein and this was
what caught my eye! I am rather interested in old place-names, particularly
when there is a connection with mining. I duly looked up Vogelfontein in one
of the old mine lists and found the one twenty miles north of Brits (the
lead prospect). The other Vogelfontein, I found in a book titled "Register
of Transvaal Farms" by Reitz & Botha (1926). What I didn't realise at the
time, is that the book is divided into sections so that farms are listed
alphabetically according to the area in which they are located. The one I
sent you was listed under Pretoria (28 7/8 deg. Long. and 26 1/8 deg. Lat.)
- i.e. the one near Delmas. Now that I know how the book is arranged, I see
that there are lots of Vogelfonteins but you are probably right about it
being near Boksburg! There is one under 'Witwatersrand' (28 1/4 deg. Long.
and 26 1/4 deg. Lat.) In brackets, it states - 'now Bo.' - which I assume to
be 'now Boksburg'. Could this be one of the farms on which Boksburg now
stands?

I am afraid that I can not offer too much further advice. It is possible to
purchase topo. maps of SA on a scale of 1:50 000, which will certainly show
the present farms - but we have no idea whether this Vogelfontein still
exists. If you give me a day or two, I'll see if I can find the relevant
topo. map for these co-ordinates and come back to you.

Regards ... Dave

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