Eloff Street

Eloff Street
Eloff Street was the shopping heart of the growing town. It led up from Park Station, on the way to Market Square – today's Beyers Naude Square. People would take a short cut either through President or Pritchard streets. But in time Pritchard Street became the preferred shortcut because of the Palace Building on the corner of Pritchard and Rissik streets, records Ball. Built in 1889, the much-loved Palace Building was the tallest building in town at the time, dominating the skyline. "It was by far the most imposing building of its time. Its white icing-sugar facade and its fine, fussy 30-metre tower – almost a steeple – stand out in every view of central Johannesburg of the era," writes Arnold Benjamin in Lost Johannesburg. Known as the "Eiffel Tower of the Rand", it had "smart ground-floor shops". It complemented Pritchard Street, which was a beacon for shoppers with drapery and jewellery stores, ladies' and men's outfitters, and confectioners. Markham was built eight years later, in 1897, cementing the importance of Eloff and Pritchard streets as shopping drawcards. "Eloff and Pritchard streets became symbols of the prestige and quality of the retail district and properties at the intersection remained the most valuable in the country until the late 1970s," writes Ball.

Eloff Street was the shopping heart of the growing town. It led up from Park Station, on the way to Market Square – today's Beyers Naude Square. People would take a short cut either through President or Pritchard streets. But in time Pritchard Street became the preferred shortcut because of the Palace Building on the corner of Pritchard and Rissik streets, records Ball.

Built in 1889, the much-loved Palace Building was the tallest building in town at the time, dominating the skyline. "It was by far the most imposing building of its time. Its white icing-sugar facade and its fine, fussy 30-metre tower – almost a steeple – stand out in every view of central Johannesburg of the era," writes Arnold Benjamin in Lost Johannesburg.

Known as the "Eiffel Tower of the Rand", it had "smart ground-floor shops". It complemented Pritchard Street, which was a beacon for shoppers with drapery and jewellery stores, ladies' and men's outfitters, and confectioners.

Markham was built eight years later, in 1897, cementing the importance of Eloff and Pritchard streets as shopping drawcards. "Eloff and Pritchard streets became symbols of the prestige and quality of the retail district and properties at the intersection remained the most valuable in the country until the late 1970s," writes Ball.