Historic 114-year-old building in South Africa that was turned into a shopping mall
The Tramshed mall in Pretoria was built around the same time as the Union Buildings and originally served as a tram depot.
The original building was constructed in 1912 as a tram depot for the city’s growing public transport systems.
The city began using trams in 1897, and they were originally horse-drawn carriages, but the system was suspended during the Anglo-Boer War.
The system had 50 horses drawing eight trams between two operating stations, and was introduced by the Pretoria Tramway Company.
In 1910, horse-drawn carriages were replaced by 14 electric trams, with routes serving what is now the Pretoria Zoo, Sunnyside, and Pretoria West.
The tram routes were later extended to run from Church Street, the system’s main hub, to the Union Buildings.
These trams were operated by the Pretoria municipality at the time, which also started placing advertisements on the vehicles to generate additional revenue.
Pretoria’s public transport system was not the first tram service in South Africa, as Cape Town began using them in 1863.
Pretoria’s tram network operated for nearly 40 years, with the last trip taken in 1939 from Church Square to Sunnyside.
The original trams were replaced after this by trolley buses, which still used overhead lines but did not need to run on tracks.
The Tramshed was built in Pretoria Central, on what is now Francis Baard Street, to store and service the trams when not in use.
The building is one of the only surviving remnants of this system, along with parts of the original tracks and the tram stop in Church Square.
The Tramshed today
Today, the Tramshed is a mall serving Pretoria Central with stores such as Pick n Pay, Dischem, and Virgin Active.
The centre also features several clothing and beauty outlets, as well as a Capitec Bank branch and government offices.
The mall has approximately 12,800 square metres of lettable space and is close to Pretoria’s public transport hubs and major roads.
The building still features many of the original design aspects from when it served as a transport depot, including its redbrick walls and metal roof.
The space has undergone renovations to modernise it, such as installing large windows and redesigning the mall’s outdoor spaces.
Until the end of 2025, Market at the Sheds was a monthly event in Pretoria that brought together vendors and live music.
While the name may sound similar to the Tramshed, the two are not directly linked, but are both unique offerings in Pretoria Central.
“What began as a cultural market quickly became a much-loved platform for music, food, design, creativity and connection,” Market at the Shed said on its website.
The event would feature a variety of local food and retail vendors, as well as performances from South African musicians.
While this event has not been officially cancelled, no market or public event has been held at the Tramshed since December 2025.
On its website, Markets at the Shed said it is currently focused on private events, collaborations, and new opportunities to bring the market to different spaces.
“The experience, network and know-how behind Market at the Sheds now shape our private events, Made in Mzansi experiences, market infrastructure and partnership work,” the company said.
“Over more than a decade, the Market brought together local entrepreneurs, musicians, makers, artists and audiences — building a strong community and a distinctly Pretoria experience.”
The Tramshed Mall is owned and operated by Emira Property, a JSE-Listed real estate investment trust (REIT).
Emira owns several malls in South Africa, such as the Ben Fleur shopping centre, Randridge Mall, and the Wonderpark shopping centre.
It also has significant residential and commercial property holdings in South Africa, as well as several retail spaces in the U.S.
Photos of the Tramshed Mall
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