History of Our Company

The Barbour & Thorne Story

Introduction:

In 1949 Walter Burton Thorne, affectionately known as Wally, joined the Anglo American Welkom Township Company and was sent to Welkom to join the Anglo team in the process of creating a brand new town in the center of the newly developed Goldfields.  The Welkom Township Company had been established to create the infrastructure required to support a mining industry of six mines, each with several mining shafts.   The manager of the Welkom Township Company was a Mr Ron Barbour, a gentleman who had been an Anglo man all his life and was nearing retirement. During the latter part of 1951, Wally decided that he no longer wished to be a Corporate- Company- Man and told his manager Ron, that he wanted to go it alone in this young developing town, to start his own Estate Agency business. Ron convinced Wally to allow him to join him in the new venture, Wally was pleased at the thought of having this gentleman with several years of experience, to be his partner and so was born Barbour & Thorne (Pty) Ltd on the 1 March 1952.

The Early Days...

Prospecting for gold in the Free State had begun as early as 1896; it was however not until the 5th May 1933 that the prospector Alan Roberts sunk the first borehole in search of gold. At a depth of 2721 feet, the borehole penetrated a rock formation known as the Witwatersrand geological system, in which was discovered some gold deposits. Alan Roberts, Mannie Jacobs, Fritz Marx and Peter Wolf formed the Wit Extension Company Limited to carry out extensive drilling operations in the area. Finances dried up as their drilling had reached 4046 feet. Alan Roberts is recorded to have said in an Odendaalsrus hotel that night, that someday, someone with faith would continue to drill and discover a rich gold deposit there, little did he know that only 11 years hence, that same borehole would be drilled a further 400 feet to discover one of the richest gold ore deposits in the Goldfields.

In 1939 the first high grade ore body was discovered in borehole No.5, that was sunk on what was to become the St Helena Mining Lease. By 1940 it was clear that the new goldfields showed impressive potential, with the development of mining only to be briefly delayed by the outbreak of the II World War.

As the war came to an end, gold drilling continued once again.  In April 1946 the borehole known as Geduld 697 yielded one of the richest gold ore bodies in the world.

By 1947 Sir Ernest Oppenheimer knew that full scale mining operations would soon commence in the Free State Goldfields.  The mining giant Anglo American approached the city fathers of Odendaalsrus to inform them that a large town was about to grow out of the mieliefields.  They could not get their minds around the idea that gold would change the landscape of this platteland dorp forever.  After experiencing much resistance to development, Anglo American bought the farm Welkom, from the de Kok family and promptly set about designing a new town.

Sir Ernest Oppenheimer appointed William Backhouse to design the town, with the single guiding rule, that it should be a modern town, designed to be a place where the inhabitants would enjoy a modern lifestyle and be proud to call it home.  With this directive the town was designed with wide streets and boulevards with traffic circles to ensure a free flow of traffic.  Joanne Pim was appointed to design the parks and gardens in the new town of Welkom, a town known as a town within verdant gardens, and an oasis of beauty in the middle of the Orange Free State.

Today the gardens on the traffic circles have been given to local businesses to maintain. The Barbour & Thorne circle was skilfully and beautifully designed by Mrs Carien Pienaar.

Welkom was clearly to become an important town in South Africa; it produced 21% of all the gold in the free world.  This fact gave rise to Welkom being elevated to City status in 1967, which was celebrated at the opening of the Ernest Oppenheimer Civic Centre Complex that year.

For the first two years that Wally spent in Welkom, he learnt all he could about the property business and was tasked with the marketing and selling of commercial, industrial and residential  zomea land, to any potential developers and builders. The property division of the Township Company had as their primary task, the responsibility of creating private ownership of property in the township that would enhance the feeling of permanence and stability in the town.

In 1951 Wally convinced his young Health Inspector friend, Aubrey Nyschens, to purchase an option for nine residential stands in Graham Street, Dagbreek for £150.00. Six months later Wally was instructed to buy them back again as Anglo American wanted to develop the stands themselves. Wally offered Aubrey the opportunity to make himself a fine profit by doubling his money, Aubrey settled on £350.00.

Houses were mushrooming in the town with a huge demand for accommodation.  The first houses were built in 1950 on the Southern side of stateway in Doorn.  The airport was located just behind Doorn on the southern side of Long Road in what we today know as Jan Cilliers Park.

Early Personal Life

These two young inhabitants of Welkom Aubrey and Wally met when Wally moved into the next door room at Nyala House, the only accommodation in Welkom for single gentlemen employed by Anglo American. Wally spent two years at Nyala House; however he wasn't planning on remaining a bachelor for too long, as he had met the pretty daughter of Cecil Whitfield, a Viljoenskroon Mielie farmer.  He had met Fay Whitfield in Springs during 1949 while they were both teaching there. Wally would fly up to Matjiespan farm with his friend in a single engine piper cub and land on the dry farm dam to visit his fiancé. They were married at Matjiespan on 12 January 1952 and moved to Welkom to start their married life together. Accomodation was scarce in the young town but Wally had befriended a young lawyer, Jannie Wessels, who had started the first legal practise in Welkom in 1950.  Wally and Fay moved into Jannie and Charlotte's house in Jansen Street, Dagbreek and thereafter into the newly built two bedroom flat in Prreio House in King Street, Dagbreek.  Evyn was born in the flat on 21 June 1953.

Wally and Fay bought their first house in October 1953, 37 Langeberg Street, where they lived for 35 years.  In a speech made by Jannie Wessels at Wally and Fay's 40th wedding anniversary, he alluded to the fact that these were people of character and stability as reflected in their lifestyle.  They were folk who attended the Methodist church regularly, where Fay played the organ and conducted the church choir for almost 45 years.  It was no co-incident that one of the fundamental values inculcated at Barbour & Thorne, is sustainability.  Wally served as a charter member of the Rotary Club of Welkom during which time he and Fay hosted various exchange students and visiting Rotarians from all over the world, nurturing them in their home away from home. Amongst others, General Roscoe Murray and wife Catherine, together with Rufus and Nina Brandenburg from the US and Wolfgang Kruger Spitte from Hamburg, who all became lasting family friends.

The Business was started

Wally was 26 years old when he started the business with very little capital to his name.  This had also been a reason for inviting Ron Barbour onboard as well as his friend Jannie Wessels who'd bought a 10% shareholding in the company.  The first office of Barbour & Thorne was in a 1947 Nash Ambassador motor car.  Pioneer House was the only privately owned building with available offices and soon the decision to move into two 15m² offices was made.

Business was brisk in the early years, as Welkom was the young bright star in South Africa.  It was not long after opening their doors for business that it was clear that Ron Barbour was not cut out for the new venture. He had however left an impression on young Wally.  He had advised Wally that he should at all times remember that one's actions should never compromise your client's trust.

He had suggested that as an estate agent, one should not even invest in property as this could be construed as a conflict of interest.  This was the basis upon which Barbour & Thorne was founded; honour and trust, good old fashioned values that even today have stood the test of time.

After Ron left the business, his brother Bill joined Wally at Barbour & Thorne and hence the name remained unchanged.  Wally focused on the residential market and Bill focussed on auctioneering.

The two partners very soon realised that diversity in the business would provide greater security of income generation over the longer term.  Little did they know that this foresight would be the one key business strategy that would ensure survival of the company through the turbulent economic cycles that were due to plague this mining town in the future.   Barbour & Thorne added property administration to their already established sales and auctioneering divisions and Insurance was soon added to the total offering together with a Permanent Building Society Agency.

The 1950's were politically challenging for the Governing National Party and Parlement decided to break away from the commonwealth union with Britain when South Africa became a Republic on 31 May 1961.  Whether or not this was the reason for economic uncertainty in the country, fact is that not one property transfer took place in Welkom during that year.

Personal life

Wally was not only a fellow who worked hard, but he was a keen sportsman.  He was a founder member of the Welkom Rovers Club where he played hockey and later managed the Northern Free State men's hockey team.  He became keen on fishing and was awarded Springbok colours for angling in 1964 when the National team competed in an International Fishing Competition hosted by Denmark and again in 1972 when they fished in Mauritius.  Wally organised frequent fishing competitions to the virgin waters of Mozambique and Mauritius and was even granted life-time membership to the La Morne and Black River Fishing Clubs in Mauritius.  All these travel arrangements and the growing interest in travel encouraged the opening of the first IATA registered Travel Agency in Welkom in 1963.

During the early 60's, Wally travelled to Johannesburg regularly to attend Angling Association, Institute of Estate Agents and Travel Agency Board meetings and many meetings with potential property investors.

Disaster struck the company in 1966 when Bill Barbour passed away after suffering a massive heart attack.  Wally now had to run the business alone and find enough money to buy out Bill's widow Vera.  The sixties must have been lucrative years for the business, making it possible to buy out Vera as well as deciding in 1967 that the Welkom / Johannesburg road was too dangerous to travel on and Wally learnt to fly.  He together with his great friends Kurt Eggmann and Heinie Heiriss, bought a Cessna 182 Skylane,  ZS - DRL and operated the aeroplane in an association known at "HET - Air".

High pressure and stress were clearly not only a phenomena of the 21st Century.  In 1968 Wally complained one day of having a pain in his left arm after returning to Welkom by plane from Johannesburg with friend and business associate, Mr Kecko Moretti.  The next day he made an appointment to see Dr. Ryk Joubert where he had a heart attack in the consulting rooms and was rushed to hospital where he spent two weeks and several more weeks recovering at home.

Personalities at Barbour & Thorne

During this time of uncertain life or death, Mrs Joyce Zietsman, Wally's right hand woman, ran the business with regular visits to 37 Langeberg Street.  Mrs Ziets as she was fondly known, was the company book keeper for about 16 years until she finally retired in 1979.

The seventies saw the four Thorne boys finish boarding school at Queens College and attending university.  Evyn completed his Agriculture degree at UOFS while Andrew and Hilton attended the university of Pietermartizburg.   Rodney went off to Atlas to do his aircraft mechanics apprentenship.

Cousin Strett Nicholson joined Barbour & Thorne in 1971 to sell property.  Marilyn Kinsella joined the firm as Wally's P.A. in 1971, Andrew arrived in 1977, Evyn in 1978, Rodney in 1981 and Hilton in 1987.  Cousin Ernest Thorne joined the firm as chief book keeper in 1986 and sadly only remained for 5 years. George Nezar joined the team when Andrew immigrated to the US in 1994 and contributed valuable administrative skills to the commercial letting department for 9 years. Barbour & Thorne has always been blessed with loyal and very capable staff, the following current staff members have been with the firm for more than 10 years; Eunice van Vuuren, Shirley Reay, Loudine Nel, Leilanie Oelsen, Jenni Rough and Bianca Haji.

How the Business found its niche

When Wally started the property administration and rent collection division he realised that he had to enlarge the portfolio.  In 1973 Mass Investments was formed by Wally and nine of his Italian friends.  He had learned to speak Italian during World War 2 in Italy.  He had been assigned to the South African Armoured Division in 1944 and sent to Italy for the latter part of the war.  At the termination of the war he realised that there were huge social problems in Italy as a result of the devastation caused by the war.  The Allies were packing up their camps and going home, so he enlisted in the social upliftment programme and drove trucks loaded  with hospital beds, tents, medical supplies, office equipment and whatever else the Allies has used but were not taking home.  These items were driven to the villages throughout Italy and given to the civilian population.  He recalled to us how appreciative the locals were and showed their gratitude in true Italian hospitality with pasta, eggs, bread, cheese and wine flowing generously.

Another early sindication was Salutatio Investments put together by Strett, that was formed in 1974 and purchased a 25% share in Welkom mansions.  Flamingo Heights (Pty) Ltd was formed in 1964 when it bought Flamingo Heights for R120,000.00.  Kensmey Investments, Utopia Court, Linona Investments, Welkom Finance Company and several others helped to establish a solid rental portfolio.

In 1986 a new form of property ownership came into existence in South Africa, known as Sectional title ownership.  This became a popular form of ownership particularly in townhouse complexes.  Together with the new legislation came the necessity for the management of this sort of property.  Barbour & Thorne started their new division to manage these new Body Corporates, today Barbour & Thorne manage 54 Body Corporates and issue 873 levy account per month, 88 commercial properties with 486 leases and the residential letting department manages 6 flat blocks and 896 leases.

Where the business operated

Over the years Barbour and Thorne occupied various premises throughout the town.  At its inception, Pioneer House was the only building available to occupy.  The offices soon became too small and the business moved to Raymond House in about 1954.  In 1963, Jannie Wessels convinced Wally and Bill to move the business to his building in Currie House.  The Permanent Building Society agency, M?Phails Coal agency together with the Travel agency, were located on the ground floor with administration, the auction room and executive offices on the first floor. A new growth boom in Welkom that started in the 70's with the international gold price that started to climb, saw Stands in Long Road and Bok Street being developed.  Wally bought the stand at 34 Bok Street and put a syndication together to build Charter House which became home to Barbour & Thorne from 1979 until 2005 when the business moved to Stateway  Chambers, the old Saambou Building in Stateway.

Closure

The future looks bright for Barbour & Thorne; who really knows what lies ahead? We look forward to more growth and the possibility of establishing our Barbour & Thorne Brand in other centres and cities in South Africa as the manpower and expertise allow.

We have pursued excellence over the past 72 years in the property service industry and look forward to a golden future in the wonderful city of Welkom, serving its inhabitants with passion, integrity and gratitude; Grateful to our staff, without whom Barbour & Thorne could not have achieved what it has, grateful to our clients and friends without whom there would have been no business and grateful to God without whose Grace there would have been no purpose.

Thank you in celebrating this, the 72nd anniversary of Barbour & Thorne with us, reflecting on the past and toasting the future, whatever it may bring.