History of the most famous
building in Swakopmund, Namibia.
The house of Damara and Namaqua
Trading Company was designed by architect Mr. Friedrich Hoft.
The building was completed in 1905. The tower was named ''Damara Tower'' from where
observers used to look for ships in the ocean and ox wagons in the desert.
In April 1909 the Damara and Namaqua Trading Company sold all its shares to
the company C.
Woermann and to their shareholders and was renamed to ''Woermann Brock & Co.
which is the present day name. Mr. Emil Woermann (1813-1880) was a founder of the company
which also owned Woermann Line. At the time the company was run by Adolf and
Eduard Woermann, sons of Emil Woermann, and their in-laws Max Brock and Arnold
Amsinck. Mr. E. Wardesky who was the manager of Damara company had remained
as the manager of Woermann Brock & Co.
E. Wardesky and his family stayed in the building on the ground floor in the front.
The bedroom was a step higher up. At the arcades were the rooms of the employees and
guests. Next to the tower was a small dining room, a kitchen and working rooms for
employees. The stairs lead down to a wine cellar. In the northern part of the house was a
room called ''Vorstekamer'' which was used as a reception, music room and a dining room
that could host up to sixty people. Boasting gracefully panelled walls and stucco ceiling
were manufactured in Germany at the end of nineteenth century.
In April 1907 Prince Albrecht of Prussia stayed in the Woermann House when he
attended annual gathering in Fabersaal where 150 people were invited. During this time he
named the three front rooms ''Vorstekamers''. The Woermann House was most of the time
fully occupied by workers and students who attended schools in Swakopmund. Boers who
travelled with ox wagons to Swakopmund to buy their groceries and other supplies also
stayed in the House.
E. Wardesky went to Germany and came back after the war in early 1920s. He died
in 1929 in Swakopmund. After his death the management was taken over by Wilhelm
Brock, son of Max Brock.
YouTube video of Mondesa tour -
Swakopmund, Namibia:
On the 18th of June 1924 Woermann Brock Co. sold the erf with the Woermann House
to the Administrator of South West Africa and on the 10th of December the building was
declared a historic monument. On the 1st of July 1975 the building was given to
Swakopmund administration. In 1976 Woermann House was restored at the final costs of R230
000.
We would like to thank Mr. Wilfried Brock
(wilfried@cyberhost.com.na) for
the provided information and corrections. He is the grandson of Wilhelm Brock,
great-grandson of Max Brock and great-great-great-grandson of Emil Woermann.
Woermann House today - aerial image, photo by
Dronesberg:
YouTube video of tour to Mondesa |
Township singers Vocal Galore | Swakopmund
