The cornerstone of the building was laid on 19 December 1907 by Sir Hamilton Gould-Adams, and was officially opened on 16 October 1909. The North and South wings date from 1915 and 1929 respectively. It was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 7 October 1983.
Place record
University of the Free State, Main building, Bloemfontein

University of the Free State,Main Building Image source
- Coordinates
- -29.1059, 26.1807
- Updated
- 8 Mar 2023

University of the Free State,Main Building Image source
Location Map
University of the Free State, Main building, Bloemfontein
How we know this
- 01https://www.ufs.ac.za/about-the-ufs/ufs-in-focus/brief-history
Last updated · 8 Mar 2023
South African History Online. (2011, July 14). University of the Free State, Main building, Bloemfontein. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/P-0065693
South African History Online (2011) 'University of the Free State, Main building, Bloemfontein', South African History Online, 14 July. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/P-0065693 (Accessed: 24 July 2026).
South African History Online, University of the Free State, Main building, Bloemfontein [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/P-0065693, (accessed 24 July 2026).
"University of the Free State, Main building, Bloemfontein." South African History Online, 14 July 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/P-0065693. Accessed 24 July 2026.
South African History Online. "University of the Free State, Main building, Bloemfontein." South African History Online. July 14, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/P-0065693.
Further reading
University of the Orange Free State, Grey's College School
Free State Province
Apartheid's Sporting Afterlife by Clark Easey
Matjiesfontein
SAHO is free because readers fund it. Donate →