Our Story...

In 1957 Mr Herculas Phillipus Johannes Bruwer qualified as a Pharmacist. However, he was too young to practice at the time, therefore he decided to go to England to pursue his Ophthalmic Optics Diploma (from 1958-1961). In 1962 he had finished his pre-registration year and was qualified as an Optometrist. In this time he specialising in fitting hard contact lenses as well as artificial eyes. 

When Mr Bruwer returned to South Africa from Europe in 1963, he first worked for Stanley & de Kock until he decided that he wanted to start his own private practice. Mr Bruwer followed his ambition and started the Optometry practice in conjunction with a pharmacy in Presidents Arcade in Pretoria Central. 

– HPJ Bruwer Oogkundiges was founded by Mr Bruwer on 1 April 1964 – 

Originally Mr Bruwer worked on his own and later Eric Klerck joined the practice from 1966. When Eric wanted to open his own practice in 1971, an Optometry position opened and newly qualified Miss CA Hall (Connie) came over from England to fill the post. She started her Optometry career at HPJ Bruwer Oogkundiges in September 1971 (originally on a 2 year contract – however this was later extended). 

Mr Bruwer’s first marriage ended in divorce in 1973. Mr Bruwer later married Miss CA Hall in 1975. In 1980 the practice relocated from Presidents Arcade to the Sanlam Centre in Pretoria central. In 1980 their first child, Danie Bruwer was born and later in 1982, Estelle Bruwer. 

In 1985 Mr Bruwer bought a property in Menlo Park with the idea to relocate the practice over time. Mrs Bruwer then started and managed the Menlo Park HPJ Bruwer Oogkundiges branch. In 1998 the Sanlam Centre branch was fully closed and the entire practice was rebuilt and moved to Menlo Park (494 Charles street) where it still stands today. This is also when the practice was renamed to: “Bruwer Menlopark Optometrists – Oogkundiges“.

In 2005 daughter, Estelle Bruwer graduated with her degree in Optometry. In 2012 the street address name was changed to “1234 Justice Mahomed Street”. On 15 March 2012 Mr HPJ Bruwer passed away. It was at this time that Mrs Bruwer had to take over complete management of the practice. For a short period from 2014-2016 the practice was part of the Specs4U franchise. From 2016 to date the practice has remained an independent private practice. 

The Bruwer practice is one of the oldest Optometry practices in South Africa.