The relatively small, long-established suburb of Orchards Johannesburg, with its tree-lined streets and large, timeless homes, many of which have either been renovated or divided into apartments, puts one in the heart of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, close to neighbouring Oaklands, and just a 10-minute leisurely drive along back roads to Sandton.
Nearby Melrose Arch, which is continually growing, offers a somewhat unusual combination of business, play, and home space. A lot of eateries are located on the square, which is evocative of the street culture so common in Europe.
The epitome of chic living in the city, Melrose Arch is a collection of condos, lofts, and penthouses perched above stores and offices. One of Johannesburg’s best-kept secrets is undoubtedly the bustling Norwood high street with its shops, cafés, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Norwood has a distinct bohemian flavour and a colourful mix of ethnicities that produce a particularly global ambience that is severely absent in some of the city’s other northern suburbs. Norwood is comparable to other prominent “street culture” suburbs, such as Melville and Parktown. One of Johannesburg’s many parks, Melrose Bird Sanctuary is close to Orchards and is home to over 120 different kinds of wild birds. These birds fly through the native trees and reed beds that surround the sanctuary’s picturesque lake.
History Of Orchards, Johannesburg
In March 1902, Orchards was designated as a suburb. Around 2,500 fruit and decorative trees were reportedly present on the property at the time, along with a residence. The Orange Grove Spruit, a seasonal creek with its source on the ridge above Louis Botha Avenue close to Fellside, irrigated the orchards in the area.
Nowadays, the majority of the stream that once ran through the suburb is either buried or canalized, joining the Sandspruit river in the end. Prior to the property being surveyed as a township, William Anderson Martin owned the 18 acres that are now Oaklands and Orchards. Martin bought the area in 1896. He gave the land to St. Luke’s Anglican Church.