Brixton Cemetery, Johannesburg

Brixton Cemetery, Johannesburg

Brixton Cemetery boasts a significant number of war graves spanning South Africa's history. At the main entrance, there stands a monument dedicated to honoring those South Africans who lost their lives during the First World War. Additionally, along Main Drive, another First World War monument stands tall, serving as a tribute to the South African Scottish Regiment.

Among the notable figures interred here is Randlord Lionel Phillips, who found his final resting place in the early 1900s, along with his wife, Lady Florence. Lady Florence is particularly renowned for her establishment of what would later become the Johannesburg Art Gallery. Another prominent figure, Sir George Albu, who laid the foundation for the mining company that evolved into Billiton, is also buried in Brixton.

It is worth mentioning Gandhi's involvement in the establishment of Johannesburg's first Hindu crematorium, a historic first for the entire African continent. In 1908, Gandhi engaged in negotiations with the town council, ultimately securing a plot within Brixton Cemetery for the crematorium. The original wood-burning crematorium, constructed in 1918, still stands today, coexisting with a brick, gas-fired crematorium that was added in 1956 and remains in active use.

Furthermore, Brixton Cemetery is the final resting place of Mary Fitzgerald, who held the position of deputy mayor in Johannesburg in 1915. Her significant contributions are commemorated with the naming of Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, a testament to her enduring legacy.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Johannesburg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Brixton Cemetery on Map

Sight Name: Brixton Cemetery
Sight Location: Johannesburg, South Africa (See walking tours in Johannesburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Johannesburg, South Africa

Create Your Own Walk in Johannesburg

Create Your Own Walk in Johannesburg

Creating your own self-guided walk in Johannesburg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Johannesburg Introduction Walking Tour

Johannesburg Introduction Walking Tour

Johannesburg, or Joburg, or "City of Gold", as it is often informally called, is South Africa's largest city. The area's original inhabitants included hunter-gatherers from the San tribes and the Ndebele, a tribe associated with the Zulu. A gold rush in 1884 lead to Johannesburg's founding in 1886. Within a decade, the population had grown to 100,000 inhabitants.

Much...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Since founded in 1886, following the discovery of gold on what used to be farmland, Johannesburg has evolved into an economic powerhouse of Africa. While most of the city's early buildings adopted architectural styles from its colonial parent, the British Empire, some of them also emulated the prowess of New York City. Let's take a closer look at some of these construction marvels.

...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


15 Uniquely South African Souvenirs to Bring Home from Johannesburg

15 Uniquely South African Souvenirs to Bring Home from Johannesburg

One of the most fascinating cities in Africa, Johannesburg is a showroom for all things South African - a mixture of native and European trends, deeply rooted in local habits and traditions. To find your way around many of the delights Jo'burg has to offer and to pick up some as a remembrance...
South African Sweets and Pastries

South African Sweets and Pastries

A melting pot of the Dutch, British and African traditions, the culture of South Africa embraces flavorful cuisine in which traditional desserts play an important role. South Africans love it sweet – be it a veggie dish or a barbecue sauce on meat, let alone purpose-made pastries that they are...