History

The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary has been named after South Africa's greatest ornithologist-mammalogist yet, J Austin Roberts. He was born in Pretoria in 1883 and grew up in Potchefstroom as a minister's son. He received his grounding from a famous pioneer amateur ornithologist based there, namely Thomas Ayres. The University of Pretoria presented the self-taught Roberts with an honorary doctorate for his many achievements. These included standard South African reference books on mammals and birds.

The 11,8 ha site was officially opened by Mr WJ Seymore, then Mayor of Pretoria, on 27 October 1956. This was the culmination of a group effort by Mr H Bruins-Lich (then the city's Director of Parks), Dr Gertrude Theiler (daughter of Onderstepoort's founder), Dr LEW Codd (former Director of the National Botanical Gardens) and Mr K Hyslop (first Chairman of the Pretoria Bird Club). The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary was officially proclaimed as a nature reserve on 26 February 1985

The sanctuary is located in the Walkerspruit Open Space System. Two streams, the Walker and the Argo, feed water into wetland basins of which nine are small perennial dams that attract a multitude of water birds. The sanctuary was fenced in in June 1970 and became a valuable civic amenity with recreational and educational value.

Activities and Facilities

The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary has a wide variety of bird life that can be observed from the bird hide. Guided walks can be arranged and there is an exhibition hall.

Wildlife

Vegetation

Visiting Hours

How to get there?

From the Fountains Circle (on the R21), take the George Storrar turn-off. Travel east passing Koningin Wilhelmina Avenue, where George Storrar Drive changes into Middel Street. Turn left at the first robot, Dey Street, and then left again at Boshoff Street. The entrance to the sanctuary is on the left.

Entrance Fees

Bookings and Contact Numbers