Melrose House is a Victorian mansion built by Pretoria businessman George Jesse Heys in 1886. The house is more famous for being the headquarters of the British forces after the invasion of Pretoria in 1900, and the place where the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed on 31 May 1902, bringing the Anglo-Boer War to a close.
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Dining area in Melrose House. Photo courtesy Gauteng Tourism Authority
Today, visitors to Melrose House can learn more about the Anglo-Boer War through the photographs and information on display in the building. The house is also of architectural interest, marking a transition from Victorian to Edwardian styles.Interior furnishings include stained-glass windows, sumptuous carpets, and ornate ceilings and fireplaces. Many of the early decorations remain, including paintings and porcelain ornaments belonging to the Heys family.
There is a reference library at Melrose House, and visitors can relax in the tea garden after the day’s guided tour. There is also a clay tennis court on the grounds.
Melrose House hosts a number of temporary exhibitions, antique fairs and talks. Workshops for children and adults can also be booked.
Admission
Adults: R9 Children: R6 Preschool children: Free
Visiting hours
Tuesdays to Sundays from 10h00 to 17h00 Closed on Mondays and certain public holidays.
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Well furnished Melrose House. Photo courtesy Gauteng Tourism Authority
