Bart Dorrestein
Bart Dorrestein is a qualified BSc Civil Engineer (Wits) 1971. He joined Stocks & Stocks in 1974 as a Site
Engineer, growing to become the Deputy Chair and CEO. During this time Stocks grew to be one of the
foremost Building Contractors in South Africa. He captained the team that developed Sun City
culminating in the Lost City in the period 1977 – 1992, known as Sol’s Builder. Stocks were the pioneers
of fast-track construction, meeting impossible deadlines. The Company’s values of Integrity and Fair
Play are echoed in the Legacy Group’s ethos.
Stocks during this time also became major Developers in part in their quest to keep their biggest Asset
– their 9000 staff employed.
High profile projects and developments include the Reserve Bank, Metropolitan Life Tower in Cape
Town and Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton. In 1983 Stocks started its Leisure Division, becoming
Southern Africa’s premier Developer of Timeshare Resorts and Game Lodges (Kwa Maritane &
Bakubung) as well as post 1994 the Michelangelo Hotel, The Commodore Hotel and Portswood Hotel
and Precinct, premier developments in the early days of the Victoria and Alfred.
In 1994 – 1995 Stocks Hotels (now Legacy), developed the historic development Swakopmund Station
Hotel and Windhoek Country Club which launched with the 1995 Miss Universe Contest. These Hotels
placed Namibia on the Global Tourism map. Stocks were also South Africa’s leading Builders of mass
housing as well.
Dorrestein left Stocks in 1999 after 25 years of loyal service, forming the Legacy Group. Legacy Hotels
acquired all Stocks Hotel assets. Over the following 21 years Legacy Hotel Brand has grown to be
Africa’s Premier 4 and 5-star Hotel Brand including the 3 host hotels of the 2010 World Cup the
Michelangelo Hotel, Michelangelo Towers and the Da Vinci, all on Nelson Mandela Square.
The Michelangelo Towers completed in 2007 for a period was, Sandton’s tallest only to be eclipsed by
Africa’s tallest commercial building, the Leonardo, built in the years of low economic growth in South
Africa. The Leonardo today stands as a beacon of Hope of better days to come.
Legacy’s developments and Hotels personify quality and elegance. They act as theatres to Legacy’s
most prized asset, its people, all of whom personify all that Legacy stands for Honesty, Integrity, Care
for others, especially our Guests. Having fun and leaving many Footprints in the Sands of Time in
partnership with those we meet along the way.