Page 163 - KBHA BULLETIN 24

160

The Third Generation:

Both William George (1851-1915), known as Billie, and Edward John (1857-1932), inherited
their forbear’s business talents.

Like his father, Billie Hare was powerfully built, courageous and enterprising. After the
opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 economic activity in the Cape declined severely.

Fortunately, diamonds had been discovered on the banks of the Vaal River 700 miles away and
Billie decided to try his luck on the new diamond fields. He and three assistants set out in a

Scotch cart laden with mining equipment and stores, and took 26 days over appalling tracks to

reach their destination. He could speak Dutch, which gave him a considerable advantage over
the many English immigrants flocking to the diggings. He thrived in the extremely challenging

conditions but, as only a few diamonds were found, the venture was not financially successful.

After hearing that his father had been incapacitated in an accident he hurried back to the Cape
to take over the running of the family business.

In 1873 Billie married Ellen Dix in St George’s Cathedral. Ellen was the daughter of Daniel
Dix who ran a successful restaurant in Longmarket Street. Billie and Ellen went on to have a

large family of five daughters and two sons.

After Billie’s father’s death he expanded the brickfields operation at Papendorp, which was

soon to be renamed Woodstock after the local hotel of that name. He purchased additional clay-

bearing land in the vicinity and built up a huge business, specializing in blue hard bricks. He
secured several large contracts from the SA Railways and other government departments and

was eventually producing an incredible number of bricks, 250,000 a day. He did particularly
well during the Anglo-Boer War due to the increased need for accommodation for foreign

troops and the influx of Uitlanders from the Transvaal. His home still stands today at the top
of Hare’s Avenue, Salt River. (Figs. 4.9 & 4.10).

Billie took a great interest in public life as Woodstock grew rapidly to become the third largest

municipality in the Cape after Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. He served as the Member for
Woodstock in the Cape Parliament, as a member of the Cape Divisional Council, and as Mayor

of Woodstock three times. (Fig. 4.11). He was a founder of the Woodstock Hospital and was
chairman of the Board of Management for many years. During the Anglo-Boer War he

commanded a squadron of Town Guards and bought the horses and saddlery for two troops of

guards. During the Great War (WW I) he was appointed Commanding Officer of three