The Carlton Hotel

ONCE the Carlton Hotel was a rich status symbol for Johannesburg; an internationally renowned establishment where the moneyed and the famous wined, dined and slept in style. The five-star hotel - in an upside-down Y-shape that abutted the lofty Carlton Centre, South Africa's tallest building - was always a proud reminder to Joburgers that their hospitality was among the best in the world. Henry Kissinger, Francois Mitterand, Hilary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Whitney Houston and Mick Jagger were among the hotel's guests during its 25-year history.
The 600-room hotel, which took seven years to build, opened in 1972 - and closed in 1997 -- because it became too dangerous for people to stay there, attacked as they were if they dared venture out into the surrounding streets.
Today it stands empty, a slowly crumbling and deserted ruin, stripped of its finishings, symbolic of the New South Africa, just waiting to die....

Above: A peek into the desolate foyer of the Carlton, taken from outside through the steel fencing...

Above: The barricaded entrance to the Carlton Hotel, facing into the Carlton Centre.

Above: The outside entrance to the Carlton Hotel: barricaded off to try and stop squatters from occupying the building, as has happened to so many other high rises in the city...
Above and below: Astonishing to think this building, which once hosted banquets, the world famous Three Ships restaurant, world personalities, is today totally empty. It is the second highest building in Johannesburg...