Victory House, Johannesburg

Victory House, originally named Permanent Buildings, stands in Marshalltown and holds immense historical and architectural significance. It is renowned for housing Johannesburg's inaugural elevator.

Initially, constructed and christened Permanent Building by the South African Permanent Mutual and Investment Society, which originated in Kimberley in November 1883, with the primary goal of aiding individuals of limited means in acquiring property and establishing a place for savings deposits that could generate interest. The first branch opened its doors in Johannesburg in 1889 and later relocated to the new five-story structure, now recognized as Victory House, in 1897.

Victory House is a prime example of Stucke's architectural work, representing a bold and aesthetically pleasing classical building. In this structure, Stucke artfully amalgamated and adapted elements from various architectural styles, resulting in a novel composition known as the Creative Eclectic Style—a manifestation of the Victorian era's aspiration for a new architectural style to address the challenges of its time. The building boasts several characteristic features of a Colonial Victorian structure, such as corrugated iron roofing, ornate wrought iron embellishments, and red brickwork. While the brickwork has been covered with paint, its original outline remains discernible.