Property

123-year-old Johannesburg skyscraper built by a Randlord goes on sale for R117 million

Kirsten Minnaar • 2 October 2026

One of Johannesburg’s oldest commercial landmarks, Corner House, has hit the market for R117 million.

The building at 77 Commissioner Street was completed in 1903 and became one of the most important addresses in Johannesburg’s early mining industry.

The first structure on the site was built in 1886 from corrugated iron and wood and was known as Beit’s House. A two-storey building was later erected on the site in 1893.

The third and current Corner House was commissioned by Hermann Eckstein and his mining interests. It was designed by Johannesburg architects William Leck and Fred Emley.

The building was completed in 1903 and became Johannesburg’s first skyscraper. It stood nine to ten storeys high, depending on how the structure was counted.

Rising 38 metres above the pavement, it was the largest and tallest commercial building in South Africa.

The project also introduced construction methods that were advanced for Johannesburg at the time. A steel structural frame was designed in New York and imported for the building.

The exterior was clad in stone from Warmbaths, now known as Bela-Bela, and copper was used on sections of the bay windows and central feature. The building contained 493 windows and several elevators.

Inside, the offices had electric lighting, waterborne sanitation, marble staircases, teak parquet floors and other finishes that were unusual for the city.

The basement was also designed with security in mind. It included fireproof strong rooms with space reportedly intended for storing gold.

The building became closely linked to Johannesburg’s mining industry. It housed Hermann Eckstein & Company and other businesses, and Central Mining and Investment Corporation later operated from the property.

Crown Mines also took up offices in the building after its establishment in 1909. The building remained an important corporate address through much of the 20th century before changing ownership and use.

In 1964, Rand Mines sold the property to Barclays Bank. A new Corner House headquarters was later developed elsewhere in the city. The historic building was declared a national heritage monument in 1999.

Corner House today

The Corner House was acquired by property developer Urban Ocean in 2003, when the building was in disrepair.

It has since been restored and converted into a mixed-use property incorporating offices, apartments, hospitality and other commercial space.

Now, the property has been put on the market for R117 million. The listing describes the building as an 8,000 m² commercial property in Johannesburg Central, with several office spaces spread across multiple floors.

The building also includes apartments, a penthouse, common areas, and business facilities. The property has three functioning elevators and includes office accommodation, a ground-floor coffee shop and parking.

The building is also used for events, photo shoots and film productions, adding another commercial use to the site.

A future buyer could continue with the current mix or redevelop the property. Peak to Peak, which is marketing the property, explained that two floors could be converted into a five-star boutique hotel.

A concept room has already been created as part of that proposal. The rooftop also has the potential to be made into an upmarket restaurant.

The building’s location in the Johannesburg CBD, within walking distance of retail outlets and close to public transport, makes it attractive for a range of commercial uses.