11 Golf road was build in 1949 by Mr Hawell and his wife Veda. She now live in Toronto, Canada.She was born in Johannesburg and spent 45 years of her life in Vereeniging, and 43 years of those years in 11 Golf Road There were building restrictions because of shortages of material due to World War 2. That is why there is a gap on the North side of the house. They were only allowed 2000 sq.feet of coverage. There were only 2 houses in that block at that time. They had no neighbours. There are still trees that Veda planted. In the front garden an apple tree, a lemon tree and all the oak trees, the twin juniper trees that are still growing at the top of the steps and many more. During the floods in Vereeniging, Golf Road was under water and many of the houses were inundated. This house and the houses on either side of it were not inundated although the flood water came up to the front lawn. The floods receded and the houses were spared.
The back of the house. The picture was taken in about 1960. It shows Vanessa at the age of about 10 with their Boerbull Romeo. You can clearly see the steps that lead from the glass doors of the dining room to the level of the patio. Her parents had obviously added the second garage and the room that was called the sewing room by this time. The area where you now have an outdoor room with a lovely refectory table and chairs, was at that time the kitchen yard with a washing line and big very prolific fig tree where the yard met the back garden.
Golf Road in 1957 at the time of the first floods
The old amphitheatre that was constructed by Veda. She engaged gardeners to construct the rockery surrounding that amphitheatre, Mr Anderson, the neighbour on the West side said at the time said " Since the building of the pyramids, I haven't seen such activity!' They built the rockery in 6 hours. Mr Hawell in the 'amphiteatre' Mr and Mrs Hawell on the back patio.
The picture shows the sidewalk garden for which Veda won awards three years in a row. This picture must have been taken in the early 1980's. The camera persons is standing with her back to the driveway.In front of the house there was a beautiful low stone wall.
A very young Vanessa, This picture shows the rockery in 1952 or 1953.
The view from the front of the house as in 2007
The view from the back of the house as in 2007
The view of the 'Amphiteater' before and after