Once upon a time tourists and other visitors to one of Kimberley’s main historic attractions knocked on the door of the custodian’s office for access to the Honoured Dead Memorial, to climb the steps inside to view Kimberley from the top.

The custodian’s office is a subtle brick building on the north side and just across the street from this Sir Herbert Baker designed memorial.

But it has been hijacked by vagrants, resulting in vandalism and residential use by untidy trespassers. This happened despite the fact that it is in the public eye, with thousands of motorists and pedestrians passing it every day at this oldest traffic circle in Kimberley – where streets from five directions come together, including the N8.

Furthermore, the custodian’s office is in close proximity to two well-known high schools and right next to a state-of-the-art hockey astroturf. It has become a point of concern for community safety and heritage preservation.

On a Facebook discussion, concerned citizen Henry Meier remarked “the structure seems to be well maintained with a sturdy security gate, but when I went closer I was overwhelmed by the stench of urine and… There were signs of scraps being burnt on the north side of this building with the bricks starting to turn black from the soot.”

When looking into the building through the broken window, bedding and personal items were observed inside. Meier wrote it is not in the area’s best interest to leave the situation as it is.

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“The goal is simply to have the trespassers removed from the building, the window to be replaced and burglar bars to be added to prevent someone from breaking the window again.”

“Our crime out of control is our own fault,” he said, referring to the broken window effect through which minor disorders and petty theft signal that no one is watching, inviting bolder and more violent offences. Criminals realise there are no consequences, encouraging them to target the same neighbourhood repeatedly.

Also, residents failing to log incidents means law enforcement agencies do not see the area as a hotspot, resulting in fewer patrols and resources. Apart from residents growing fearful in such situations, property devaluation is at issue.

Heritage in limbo

Steve Lunderstedt, historian and writer, said the custodian had the key to the memorial, which he would open should any person wish to climb up and view Kimberley from the top.

“The last known custodian was a Mr King who lived on Dalham Road. No one I have interviewed over the years remember it being open, so when the practice stopped I have no idea.” Lunderstedt also said it is not the first time that this building was broken into and vandalised.

On attending the school sports event on Saturday at Diamantveld High School, with the hockey matches that took place on the astroturf at the Kimberley Boys’ High School, it was clear that the Honoured Dead Memorial is still a popular spot for visitors, with many photo sessions at the memorial witnessed.

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Due to the high volume of vehicles at the event, many had to park close to the custodian’s office, which is surrounded by rubbish and burnt rubbish, with the strong smell of urine dominant.

After numerous phone calls and media enquiries – of which some went unanswered – it seems that no one is taking responsibility for this structure, or that no one really knows who is responsible for its safekeeping as a part of heritage.

The vandalised historic houses just a few blocks away in Memorial Road, which are now fenced off with razor wire in their dilapidated state, or the vandalised Cenotaph which was only fenced off after the damage had been done, emphasise that urgent civic intervention is needed to save the custodian’s office.

As Lunderstedt said before, “What is destroyed, cannot be undone“.