Page 5 - VHSA - Onderstepoort 100 Years - Part 1

ONDERSTEPOORT 100
Main Building of the Veterinary Bacteriological Laboratories of the Transvaal, as it was then named, shortly after its completion in 1908
In 1906, Theiler inspected a portion of the farm De Onderstepoort, which was situated about 10km to the north of central Pretoria, and regarded it as a much more suitable site than Daspoort. The grazing was good, the land arable and it was furthermore reputedly notorious for a high incidence of AHS. Theiler worked through F.B. Smith who requested Adam Jameson (Commissioner of Lands in the post-war government) to obtain approval for the proposed purchase from the Executive Council.
Smith presented the case to them at their meeting on 4 September 1906. According to the 1910 history of the ’Veterinary Bacteriological Laboratories of
the Transvaal’ the Colonial Government
voted £1500 as a first instalment for the
project and a 500 acres portion of the
farm De Onderstepoort was eventually
acquired. Theiler could begin planning his
new institute. ‘Responsible government’
was only instituted after the election early
in 1907 and Theiler’s first official meeting
with the politicians who would play such an
important role in his future career occurred
on 9 March 1907 when General Louis
Botha, who became Prime Minister and
Minister of Agriculture, General J.C. Smuts
and others visited him at Daspoort.
Botha was a farmer himself and fully supported the project so that a further
sum of £40 000 was approved at the first session of the new Parliament for the completion of the buildings. According to Gutsche the amount was later raised to £60 000. Theiler and Botha came to know each other quite well and the friendship lasted until Botha’s death in 1919.
Patrick Eagle, Chief Architect of the Public Works De- partment, was responsible for drawing up the plans of the institute, Theiler supplying him with the information he had acquired in Europe on the best design for a bacteriological institute. His comprehensive plans included not only the laboratory building but also stabling for a variety of animal
species and buildings for farm services, staff quarters and transport vehicles. Work on the massive main building began in June 1907. It would house several laboratories and post-mortem and services facilities.
Theiler, since 6 November 1907 a C.M.G. (Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George), started increasing his staff earlier that year in anticipation of occu- pying his new laboratory. Noteworthy among them were James Walker and Walter Frei (who arrived early in 1907 from Switzerland) as assistant veterinary bacteriologists, and K.F. Meyer (also from Switzerland) as pathologist. The latter first assumed duty in October 1908 in the new building.
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“Patrick Eagle, Chief Architect of the Public Works Department, was responsible for drawing up the plans of the institute, Theiler supplying him with the information he had acquired in Europe on the best design for a bacteriological institute.”
Early days (1908-1927)
1908-2008
Years