User:Nathan121212/Commissioner Street

Commissioner Street is a major one-way street in the Central Business District of Johannesburg, South Africa. It runs from the M31 to the M1, and is indicated as the R24. The Carlton Centre, the tallest building in South Africa, is located on the street, as is the southern end of Newtown. There is little evidence of Commissioner Street's exact origin, although it is known that this street played a role in the development of Johannesburg.

Historical events
Commissioner Street has been an important street in Johannesburg since the 1800s and has seen many significant events take place throughout its history.


 * In 1886, it was declared that mining was allowed in Johannesburg. The first significant building in Johannesburg, the Central Hotel was built soon after that by FH Bussey on the corner of Commissioner and Sauer street.


 * In May 1896, Carl Hertz bought a projector from England and screened the first film movie seen in South Africa at the Empire Palace of Varieties on Commissioner Street. The introduced South Africa to the age of the bioscope.


 * On 22 September 1941, Dr Anton Rupert starts his first business, the Voorbrand Tobacco Company, in Commissioner Street.


 * In 1973, the Carlton Centre, Africa's tallest building is opened on Commissioner Street. The building consisted of a hotel, shops and offices. The hotel closed down in 1997 due to urban decay.

Chinatown
South Africa's first Chinatown is located between buildings 5 and 17 on Commissioner Street. It was established in the early 20th century and it is estimated that by 1904 there were 180 Chinese businesses operating in the Newtown area. This Chinatown hosts an annual Chinese New Year celebration on Commissioner Street. Since 1994, it has been affected by urban decay and growing levels of crime, reducing its size. Many of the original businesses have moved to the "New Chinatown" in Cyrildene.