This popular watering hole, is a piece of local history. Situated on the corner of Louis Botha Avenue and 9th Street in Orange Grove, ‘The Radium’ as it is known, claims to be the oldest surviving bar in Johannesburg.
Originally started as a tea room by the Kalil family, it opened its doors in 1929. Thirteen years later, it acquired a malt and liquor license and became a beerhall. During the first few years, it was notorious for illegally selling alcohol to black patrons in a white district.
The venue retains much of its early Victorian charm, with attractive pressed steel ceilings and strip wooden floors. The walls are adorned with pictures of old posters, sailing ships, cartoons, soccer teams and newspaper headlines. Its large, impressive Burmese teak bar also has a history. Over 100 years old, the bar was relocated from the original Ferreirastown Hotel, which was demolished to make way for the Magistrate's Court in 1944. It is believed that trade unionist Mary Fitzgerald stood at this bar in the hotel, making rousing speeches in the build-up to the miners' strikes of 1913 and 1914. So, step inside and experience some of Johannesburg’s past.
To log this cache, you do not have to enter the building. Post a photo of yourself, showing any interesting feature of the building in the background. If you do not want to display your photo, then message the photo to me, which will be treated as confidential. No photo, no log.
In addition, please message the answers to the following questions:
1. What appears on the brass plaque above the left-hand side of the door, and how many persons are allowed into the establishment?
2. What is the Latin inscription depicted on the main signage and what does it mean?
3. How many stars appear on the branding of the local lager?
Do not post the answers in your log on this page, even if encrypted, but rather message them to me. Thanks!
Please be careful when attempting this cache. The area has changed over the years, with all of its attendant inner city problems. Best to be done with someone else or in a group.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.