A number of industries developed at Brickfields, such as trade firms, banks, brick factories, a brewery, and fisheries.

It is situated in the middle of Newtown and has been deemed an iconic building in the art and culture precinct.

[8] The Greater Newtown Construction was initiated by City of Johannesburg Municipality Council, which rehabilitated old suburb structures, enhanced public open spaces, and introduced closed-circuit television.

[10] Johannesburg City Council partnered with Gauteng Agency, Blue IQ, in a project to develop the community of Newtown.

[11] The project included building five housing developments in which Council states, "[it will] cater for different levels of income".