Learn more about what it's like to live in one of Johannesburg's oldest suburbs.
About the area
Norwood is one of Johannesburg’s oldest suburbs, with many homes dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, and is described by residents as a place where you can live, work and play.
It has a friendly and warm appeal, and neighbours are able to greet each other through fences making it an almost open village for its residents.
The properties aren’t overwhelmingly huge allowing residents to get to know each other and/or recognise and acknowledge neighbours without intruding into their space. Resident Bev Goldman enjoys the odd banter with her friendly neighbours.
“Some (although not enough) pretty houses aren’t hidden behind high walls, meaning you can see people live there.”
It is also home to the newly revamped Ascot Boutique Hotel. The popular Grant Avenue is studded with coffee bars, cafes and some of the most sought-after restaurants, and bloggers and foodies say that the street is to Norwood what 7th Street is to Melville.
The refurbished Norwood Mall ensures a dynamic and convenient shopping experience for residents.
Agents say that buyers looking to start families are drawn to the suburb’s charm, good infrastructure, top schools and proximity to retail and commercial hubs such as Rosebank, Hyde Park and Sandton.
Goldman credits the Norwood Residents Association for its efficient administration ensuring residents have peace of mind while enjoying the lifestyle. She notes that the proposed upgrade of Grant Avenue and its precinct is an exciting project which will hopefully bode well for future growth.
“When I take my dogs for a walk, they really enjoy barking at their friends who watch them from behind their fences. What more could one want?”
The suburb is also centrally located making it easy to travel to the west, east, south and other parts of the north, with main roads and highways close by.
I love living in Norwood because it’s a warm, friendly and unpretentious suburb
Bev Goldman, resident.
Medical facilities nearby:
- Edenvale Hospital
- Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital
- Yeoville Clinic
- Wits Dental Hospital
Best in food:
- Alexanders Delicatessen
- Andersons Coffee Shop
- Cosa Nostra
- Fashion Society Restaurant Bar & Lounge
- Kung-Fu Kitchen
- Queen Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant
Top schools nearby:
- Norwood Primary School
- Houghton Nursery School
- Orchards Primary School
- Houghton School
- St Mary's School
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
Take a tour through the Rosebank area in this video:
