Church Square

Church Square, built in 1855 and initially called Market Square, is the historic centre of the city of Pretoria.

Church Square’s layout was designed by Vivian S. Rees-Poole in 1912 and was meant to imitate London’s Trafalgar Square and Paris’ Place de la Concorde. During it’s early years, the square was used as a marketplace and sports field.

The square’s most prominent feature is the statue of the 5th President of the South African Republic, Paul Kruger, in his characteristic formal dress. Statues of four anonymous soldiers surround that of Kruger’s.

Several historically and architecturally significant buildings such as the Palace of Justice, the Tudor Chambers, the Old Council Chamber and the Old Capitol Theatre, surrounds Church Square.

Located on the south side of Church Square, the Old Council Chamber (also known as the Old Government Building) was the Parliament Building of the Transvaal Republic Government at the end of the 19th century. The building currently serves as offices for the management team of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. The Council Chamber, as well as an adjoined hall, is available to be rented for private functions.

Used as a military hospital for the British troops during the Angolo-Boer War of 1899-1902, the Palace of Justice is most known as the scene for arguably the most famous political trial in South Africa’s history, the Rivonia Trial. During this trial, Nelson Mandela and a number of other prominent liberation figures were charged with treason and subsequently incarcerated. The Palace of Justice is currently used as the North Gauteng and South Gauteng’s High Court.

The Old Capitol Theatre, opened in 1931, was one of the first Atmospheric style cinemas to be built in South Africa. Although much of the building is still intact and serves as a reminder of the glory days of the Atmospheric style cinema, much of the building was converted into a parking garage several years ago.

In 2007, the Tudors Chambers undertook a massive repair, maintenance and restoration works to ensure that this building is returned to being the magnificent landmark it once was. Originally intended for street level retail and luxury offices in typical high street or city centre square fashion, the building is currently used as retail office space.

The office of Tshwane Tourism is also found in the South East corner of Church Square.

Getting There

Church Square is accessible by car via Vermeulen Street, Church Street, Kruger Street or Pretorius Street. The nearest Gautrain station is the Pretoria Gautrain Station, located adjacent to the railway lines and platforms of the existing Pretoria Station in Scheiding Street.

The Gautrain CBD Inner P2 bus, which departs from the Gautrain Pretoria Station, stops (4th stop) at the corner of Bosman and Stanza Bopape Street (old Church Street), which is walking distance to and from Church Square.

Other Attractions in the Area

Nearby attractions include the Paul Kruger Church, Kruger House Museum and just a little bit further away are the beautifully restored Pretoria Station, the Cultural History Museum, the Melrose House and City Hall.