The Old Johannesburg Stock Exchange

The history of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) building is closely linked to the mining industry, particularly the Barberton mining fields, and the founding of Johannesburg.

The Barberton mining fields in the 1880s were among the first major gold discoveries in South Africa. However, it was the discovery of rich gold deposits on the Witwatersrand in 1886 that truly fueled a mining boom, leading to the rapid growth of Johannesburg. The city's name comes from Johannes Rissik, a land surveyor, and Christiaan Johannes Joubert, a government official, both of whom played roles in establishing the city.

As mining activities expanded, the need for financial services to facilitate the buying and selling of mining shares increased. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) was established in 1887, one year after the founding of Johannesburg, to serve as a hub for mining investments. Initially, stock trading occurred in a small, informal venue before moving to more permanent structures.

The "old" JSE building, located in the city center, symbolized Johannesburg's importance as a mining and financial capital. Over the years, as the mining industry grew, the stock exchange expanded its services, and the JSE eventually relocated to newer, larger facilities in Sandton, but the original building remains a key part of Johannesburg’s financial history, rooted in the mining sector's influence.