When Lourens Geldenhuys was 14, his father moved them to the gold reef, where their farm began searching for gold, this became the Geldenhys Estate! Lourens and his brothers bought Braamfontein, where they hoped to find the 'Clifton Reef'. When this idea came to nothing, the brothers divided the farm and Lourens called his portion 'Emmarentai', after his wife! This became a neighbourhood of Johannesburg. Later in 1836, the Primary school, in Liden was named after him- Primary Louw Geldenhys!
In 1895 he became a member of the Secondary Assembly and tried to consolidate the Gold Laws!
The original building was erected in 1887 by Geldenhuys, well known locally as a land developer, politician and philanthropist. In 1902 the house was considerably extended and given decorative Victorian architectural features. It remains one of the oldest surviving dwellings in Johannesburg. It was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 9 May 1986.
Geldenhys, began the Dutch Reformed Churches orphanage known as; 'Laanglaagte Orphanage'. He was known for his generosity and integrity, donating a large portion of this land for recreational use. General Louis Botha and Jan Smuts were eager to outvote him in the National Party, but only succeeded him on his death.
