major artery running north to south through the center of the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Parktown West Parktown West is the section of Parktown, West of Jan Smuts Avenue. It is almost entirely residential and famous for its beautiful avenues lined with Jacaranda and Plane trees, also known as the 'itchy ball tree'. Commerce is only permitted along the Western side of Jan Smuts Avenue. Parktown West was being developed as early as 1903 with significant increase in popularity in the 1920s and 1930s. Architecture In addition to Sir Herbert Baker, many other architects were influential in building this historical suburb, including Bertram Richard Avery, Frank Emley, James Cope Christie, Francis Fleming and Charles Aburrow. Baker's Parktown houses drew influences from the Cape Dutch revival style, which he had mastered in the Cape and combined this with stone work using "koppie stone" which was quarried in the area, often from the grounds of the houses that he built. James Cope Christie's style is eclectic drawing strong influences from Victorian styles and Art Nouveau. Charles Aburrow's designs were strongly Victorian whilst Bertram Richard Avery and Frank Emley favoured the Edwardian style. Economy Parktown also has a business district with a number of office blocks and commercial ventures. Transnet Freight Rail (previously Spoornet) has its head office in the Inyanda House in Parktown. Mansions The Parktown Mansions tell many stories of the history of Johannesburg as they were the homes of some of the most influential residents of the early city. Whilst there are a number of mansions still standing in present day Parktown, a vast majority were destroyed during the late 1960s and 1970s to facilitate the construction of the M1 motorway and the increasing popularity of Parktown as a business district. Remaining Baker mansions in Parktown include Northwards, Villa Arcadia, Bishopskop, The Stonehouse and Brenthurst. Other important mansions include Dolobran designed by J.A. Cope Christie and North Lodge designed by J.H. Aldwyncle. List of schools Parktown Boys' High School School built 1922 designed by P W D (Cleland), Deutsche Schule Johannesburg opened in Hillbrow in 1890 moved to Parktown in 1969, Helpmekaar Kollege, Johannesburg's first Afrikaanse school built 1921, The Key School, A school dedicated to the education of autistic children, Holy Family College (Parktown Convent) built 1905 James F. Beardwood, Rand Meisieskool Roedean School built 1903 designed Baker and Masey. The National School of the Arts John Orr Technical