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SUDDER AREA HERITAGE
The Saddar area heritage can be broadly divided into five distinct categories:
1) The Elphintone Street heritage area,
2) The Inverarity Road heritage area,
3) The Garden Road heritage area,
4) The Preedy Street heritage area, and
5) the fast vanishing Bohree Bazaar heritage area.Apart from these categories, heritage in Saddar is very widespread because this location used to be the hub of the business activities in the city since its earlier years. Grand buildings like the Empress Market are located here, as are the St. Andrew's Church and the Karachi Grammar School. The St. Patrick's Cathedral and the St. Joseph's Convent are also located near the boundary of this area.
INSTITUTIONS IN SUDDER
KARACHI GRAMMAR SCHOOL (1847)
ST. JOSEPH'S CONVENT SCHOOL (1862)
Old Picture
Present
(A better quality picture of the St. Joseph's Convent School is required, please help the website by contributing one)
GOA-PORTUGUESE HALL (1905)
Since Napier's time, a sizeable Goan community had established itself in Karachi. In 1869, the Goan community set up a reading room and a library which later led to the formation of the Goa-Portuguese Association in 1886. The Goa-Portuguese Hall was built during the tenure of the Association's president, Cincinnatus Fabio D'Abreo (who is also known for initiating a Goan residential colony known as Cincinnatus Town - presently called Garden East). Construction on the hall was finished by 1905, and cost Rs. 48,000, raised through the Association's own resources. The hall was opened by R. P. Barrow, Collector of Karachi, and was considered a notable addition to the town and testament to the wealth and enterprise of the Goan community.
The Hall is considered one of the finest works of architect Moses Somake (who also designed the Flagstaff House). It is an impressive structure designed to serve as the focal point for the activities of the Goan community. The architecture uses themes from early eighteenth century English Renaissance country houses employing hipped roofs, dormers, and elaborate end pilasters. The projecting central entrance portion is capped by a pediment. Windows are semicircular whereas the dormer windows are circular in shape. The building was finished somewhat lavishly with Belgian tiles used on the ground floor and teak flooring in the first floor hall. The proportions of the interior spaces are coordinated to give a feeling of loftiness and space. The choice of European Classical architecture speaks of the aspirations of the Goan community to start identifying with the taste of the British, as was the case with Dayaram Jethmal, Parsi magnate Rusomji, and Muslim philanthropist Khaliq Dina.
BAI VIRBAIJI ANGLO VERNACULAR HIGH SCHOOL (1906)
Old Picture
Present
pictures courtesy: Afshad Mistri
