The Pretoria suburb of Silverton is situated a few kilometers to the East of Pretoria’s CBD just to the East of the N1 highway. Silverton is ideally placed for access to the National Botanical Gardens and Institute and is host to the Pioneer Museum and Farm on the banks of the Moreletespruit River. The Pioneer Museum in Silverton was built by a farmer, David Botha, who arrived in the area in 1848 with three surviving children. Pioneer House in Silverton is an excellent example of the architecture of the time. The original house consisted of a kitchen, sitting-room and two bedrooms.

Pretoria was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers, who named it after his father Andries Pretorius. During the First Boer War, the city was besieged by Republican forces in December 1880 and March 1881. The peace treaty, which ended the war, was signed in Pretoria on 3rd August 1881 at the Pretoria Convention. Pretoria achieved official city status in 1931.