The name 'Pinelands' adopted in 1921

Richard Stuttaford, merchant and city councillor persuaded the South African government to grant the Trustees of the newly formed Garden Cities Trust to pursue its objective “of providing better housing and social conditions for the people”.

- 

The architectural firm that had planned the development of Welwyn was then appointed to develop the Uitvlugt housing project, and A J Thompson, the first supervising architect of Pinelands, was sent out from England for this purpose under a two-year contract.

The layout plan for Pinelands followed Mr Howard's broad principles and allowed for plenty of open space. The name “Pinelands” was suggested by the first secretary of the Garden Cities Trust, Percy Stuart Horne, in preference to the name “Midwood”.

As the township plan aimed to preserve the pines wherever possible, the name appeared and was adopted on 11 August 1921.

By the end of 1922, there were 24 houses, then around 1923, electricity was installed, and by 1924, 10 street lights were operational. On May 25, 1923, a few years after the project had been started, General J. C. Smuts laid the foundation stone in Central Square “to commemorate the founding of Pinelands”, the first Garden City.