The Carlton Centre Complex
A short history on what was once the tallest skyscraper in the Southern Hemisphere - The Carlton Centre Tower.
Quick facts:
🌆 Floors: 50
🌆 Height: 223m
🌆 Completion date: 1973
🌆 GLA of retail: 53 000m2
🌆 GLA of offices: 68 000m2
🌆 Construction began: 1960’s
🌆 Estimated replacement cost: R1.5 Billion
🌆 Location: 150 Commisioner Street, Johannesburg
🌆 Unique features: 2400m2 Sky Rink - ice skating rink, later converted into film studios
🌆 Architect: Gordon Bunshaft (SOM Architects) working with local firm Rhodes Harrison Hoffe and Partners
Anglo American and SAB (South African Breweries) were the original owners of the land. Anglo American then bought out SAB’s shares and became the sole owner.
The Carlton Complex cost R88 million to build. Anglo American sold the entire Carlton Complex to Transnet in 1999 for R33 million. The office tower and retail are operational, however the hotel is still closed. The Carlton Centre is linked to the Carlton Hotel through an underground shopping centre with over 180 retail shops.
The History of The Carlton Hotel
The first Hotel:
🏨 Floors: 6
🏨 Opening: 20 February 1906
🏨 The British Royal Family stayed here
🏨 The original hotel was demolished in 1963
🏨 Construction by: Barnadot-Joel Mining Company
The second 5-star Carlton Hotel
🏙️ Floors: 31
🏙️ Rooms: 663
🏙️ Size: 43 500m2
🏙️ Restaurant: Three Ships
🏙️ Closure: December 1997
🏙️ Opening: 21 November 1972
🏙️ Underground parking: 2000 bays
🏙️ Nelson Mandela stayed here often and delivered his ANC election victory speech in the ballroom of this hotel.
🏙️ The contents of the hotel were sold to the Protea Hotel in Gold Reef City - a replica of the Three Ships restaurant also opened there.
🏙️ Managed by: Western International hotels - interesting is that Western’s international status meant that all races could mix freely at the Carlton Hotel.
🏙️ Guests of the hotel included: Hillary Clinton, Christiaan Barnard, Harry Oppenheimer, Naomi Campbell, Michael Jackson, Margaret Thatcher, Whitney Houston, Mick Jagger, John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Anglo American had plans to sell 70% of the hotel to a Malaysian company that wanted to convert it into a casino. However, they could not get a casino licence so the sale fell through.
I had the pleasure of visiting the top of this tower on the 50th floor many years ago. Seeing the City of Gold from this 360-degree view was an overwhelming experience.
Do you have any memories connected with this hotel or tower? Please do share in the comments below:
Anyone recognise this abandoned (once-classy) glassy tower in the heart of Johannesburg CBD?
It was once the largest 5-star hotel on the #African continent with 800 rooms - Johannesburg Southern Sun Hotel and Towers.
Fun facts about the hotel in its hay day:
🏨 The hotel had a public library.
🏨 They employed approx. 750 permanent staff.
🏨 The Miss World Contest was hosted here twice.
🏨 Guests arriving at the airport could be picked up by the hotel’s Mercedes Benz or BMW VIP stretch limousine on request.
🏨 They were the first hotel in #SouthAfrica to have the tech where you could pull up your room account onto your hotel room’s TV.
🏨 There was a dedicated floor for single ladies that had a more feminine decor, special toiletries in the bathroom and more security.
🏨 Suki Hama restaurant opened here originally, it was the first traditional Japanese restaurant to open in Johannesburg - they had 8 chefs from Tokyo working here.
🏨 There were over 1000 computer terminals, printers and processors in the hotel. The hotel hired full-time trainers to teach the staff how to use the computers.
🏨 Design: SKM Architects
🏨 Contractor: Grinaker-LTA
🏨 Construction began: 1982
🏨 Interior Designer: Mr Lionel Levin
🏨 Hotel grand opening: March 1986
🏨 Construction Cost: R125 000 000
🏨 Location: 204 Rahima Moosa St, #Johannesburg
MORE ABOUT THE SMALLER TOWER:
The last guests to walk the corridors of the Johannesburg Southern Sun #Hotel and Towers was in the late 1990’s. There are two towers that are connected with a pool-deck.
The 20-floor Tollman Tower - this is the smaller tower - was originally operated by Stanley Tollman. This tower was purchased by Sol Kerzner’s Southern Sun Hotels and destined to be a 6-star hotel with 120 luxury suites, a separate check-in area and a private club, bar and business centre on the top floor. Top floor for the use of tower residents only. There is also space to park 650 cars in the 3-level basement parking area.
In its hay day, this shiny blue tower was one of the most future-forward in technology and automation when compared to the rest of the world. Also to remember is that this was before the internet. It is a shame that this once glorious establishment went the way that it did. From 1992, the hotel continued to downgrade in stars and rooms reduced until it closed in 1996.
Do you have any memories connected with these twinkling towers? Please share in the comments below.
Today we would like to showcase the new BaKalanga regalia. The reason why we say new is because this attire used to be worn only during rain dances(hosana) Enjelele but now it is the regalia that identifies with BaKalanga in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
We've lost access to our old @amavevaneacapella account and had to create a new one. Please do follow us here and we promise to be more visible
#imbube#isicathamiya#africanmusic @ Krugersdorp, Gauteng https://t.co/LXbFvMLPz8
#Gumboot Dance is not just entertainment...
#gumbootdance is a lifestyle, a culture and a tradition!
Many stories can be cited from this once famous form of communication
#SingAmavevane
We have a whole stack of #Amavevane#Branded T-Shirts, Sun / Bucket Hats, Caps and Coffee Mugs we are selling. A single purchase would be greatly appreciated in the name of #imbube#grrrrp#eshe!
The CEO of Nedbank faces criminal charges if Nedbank do not refund client R 4450.36 & R 166111.46 respectively for excessive monthly admin fees and legal cost within 10 day . The mortgage falls under the directives of the Usury Act which state that such overcharges is criminal.