Residence Archives - Excelsior
History of the residence
Excelsior men's residence's proud history streches back to the early 1950's with the creation of a residence called
Dawie du Plessis (or as it was known among the students "Dawie Doep"). In 1951, there was room for 150 male
students in the existing four residences at the time.
As a result, 12 houses had to be used for second-year students. Due to the lack of accommodation, building a
men's residence was one of the prioroties of a five-year plan for the University.
For the first phase (for 75 additional students), the cost was estimated at £37,000. The building, which had to be
ready for the 1953 academic year, was named after a donor, Dawie du Plessis, who donated £2,000.
On 28 February 1953, the residence was taken into use. The second phase of the residence, for a further 75 students
was taken into use in 1958. An additional structure was erected to the north of the existingbuilding. The cost of this
second phase was £109,000, compared to the £37,000 of the first phase eight years earlier.
The new wing was called Dawie du Plessis House North, or in student language, Liberalia. The older Dawie du Plessis
House South was refered to as Makouvlei.
On 11 March 1964 the two wings were unified and the name was changed to Excelsior, as it is known today.
In the days of Makouvlei, seperate year groups were each placed on seperate corridors. The names of these were:
First years - "Knikkengang"
Second years - Men's Avenue
Third years - Muscovy Ducks
Old men - "Adelgang"
In 1984/1985 Liberalia and Makouvlei made its first attemt to merge, but it was not successful.
The last sporting results before the successful merger of Liberalia and Makouvlie to Excelsior was as follows:
Liberalia wins Patria in the semi-final indoor hockey
Makouvlei scores a third place in football super league
This first Primarius of Excelsior was Johan Schoeman. On 15 October 1994 Excelsior held its first open day.
The emblem of Excelsior was designed by C. Wigget and the war cry, as well as the titles of the residence did
not come into existence until 1995.
Since 1996, residence actions such as "war games" have emerged where the residents would play against
each other. Today, similar actions are still being held, e.g. pillow fights between the two wings of the residence
(Makouvlei vs Liberalia).
The Titles of Excelsior are as follows:
First years - "Knape"
Second years - Masters
Third years - Knights
Fourth years - Barons
As in the past, the residence is still divided into corridors with the names of Knights and Legionnaires where
Makouvlei used to be, and Loners Dekker and Griffons where Liberalia used to be.
