3 hour walking tour

Newtown Walk

Did you know that Newtown was originally known as Brickfields?  That’s because, at the end of the 19th century, the bricks for the new mining settlement of Johannesburg were made here.

This walking tour traces the history of Newtown from brick-making, power stations and markets to its influence in music and the arts – and now its street art and urban regeneration.  Important stops along the route include Nelson Mandela’s law practice office at Chancellor House as well as Randjeslaagte, the triangular piece of land on which Johannesburg’s first mining camp was established.

And it’s not all history; there’s plenty of trivia, public art, graffiti and a stop for a soft drink or a refreshing ale at the former Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It’s worth noting that Newtown enjoyed a wondrously refreshing update to its street art during Covid-19 including a painted keyboard on Mary Fitzgerald Square and a mural celebrating Miriam Makeba on the street that bears her name. So even if you think you’ve been to Newtown, it’s definitely worth another look!