Orange Grove, Johannesburg

Orange Grove at a glance

About the suburb of Orange Grove

Known as "Little Italy" in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, at that time, most residents in Orange Grove were Italians who had immigrated to South Africa in search of work in the 1950s. The Jewish and Afrikaans cultures were also represented but in smaller concentrations.  Once the Italian Club relocated to Bedfordview in the 1980s, Orange Grove became more of an ethnic enclave. In the 1990s and 2000s, Orange Grove became even more multicultural, with the community welcoming many South African, African-continent, and Asian-continent families to the diverse suburban area.  

Public transport routes transverse Orange Grove, which is hugely convenient for residents.  Louis Botha Avenue is a main taxi route, and it also has the Rea Vaya bus route. The Rea Vaya links the Johannesburg inner city CBD, Braamfontein, and Soweto and is currently expanding its routes to Rosebank, Sandton, and further to Midrand.

Interesting facts about the history of Orange Grove

Before the founding of Johannesburg, the area known as Paterson Park (on the edge of Orange Grove) was part of the farm named Klipfontein, and the area around the Viljoen homestead was famous for its grove of orange trees. Orange Grove was proclaimed as a suburb of Johannesburg in 1889.

Orange Grove is a suburb of modest houses, all on modestly sized parcels of land. There are about 1 800 houses in the suburb. "Streets" run West to East, and "Avenues" run North to South.

Schools in the area

Orange Grove is centrally located, and while Paterson Park Primary School is within the suburb, Orange Grove Primary is on the border with the suburb of Sydenham.

Many schools are a short distance away. Public schools include Linksfield Primary School, Bellevue Primary School, Athlone Girls High, Athlone Boys High, Jeppe Boys High School, and Parktown Boys. Waverley Girls' High and King Edwards VII Preparatory and High Schools are all fantastic options for Orange Grove residents.

Medical facilities in the area

Netcare Linksfield would be the best choice of private hospitals for those living in Orange Grove, although the Rosebank and Milpark hospitals are not too far away. The Edenvale Hospital is a nearby government hospital, but other options exist, including the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Parktown.

Shopping centers and malls in the area

Norwood Mall is only 8 minutes from Orange Grove, as is Balfour Mall in Highlands North. Killarney Mall is slightly further away, a 12-minute drive from Orange Grove. 

If looking to visit a large shopping complex, then it's a comfortable 10-minute drive to Eastgate Mall.

Restaurants to visit in Orange Grove

Orange Grove is home to the oldest bar and grill in Johannesburg, the Radium Beerhall, which has a long history reaching back to 1929.  Radium Beerhall is a local landmark and a place for the community to gather. It's also a tourist attraction in Johannesburg.  Opened as a tearoom by the Kahlil family from Lebanon, it also operated as a secret shebeen that sold liquor to customers barred from drinking in that era.  More than ten years later, a wine and malt license was obtained, and the Radium Tearoom became the Radium Beerhall.

You should visit the oldest bar in Johannesburg, which is still running. It's on Louis Botha Avenue and is almost 100 years old now. Radium Beerhall.

Things to do in Orange Grove

Looking for weekend activities around Orange Grove? Here are our Top 5 things to do in and around the suburb:

1. Nu Metro cinemas in Killarney Mall screen all the latest blockbuster movies.

2. Acrobranch in Huddle Park, Linksfield, is outdoor fun for the whole family but is well-known as a kids' birthday party venue.

3. Zoo Lake is a public park and lake near the Johannesburg Zoo and is popular as a weekend picnic spot.

4. The Ditsong South African Museum of Military History displays thousands of military items relating to the country's conflicts, from the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer wars to the World Wars and resistance movements such as Umkhonto-we-Sizwe. The Military Museum is adjacent to the Johannesburg Zoo.

5. Paterson Park Sports & Recreational Centre with a swimming pool, soccer fields, tennis courts, sports hall, gym, library, karate classes, and dance classes available to the public. It's a well-known gathering spot for Orange Grove residents. The Paterson Park Sports Complex was one of the most significant projects of the JDA. They commemorated the historic clubhouse, a heritage building, with a special mural on a wall overlooking the site on which it once stood.

Distance to airports, main roads, and the CBD

With main transport routes making commuting a breeze for residents, it's an advantage that Orange Grove is so centrally located in Johannesburg. Situated just 11 kilometers from the center of Sandton and 7 kilometers from the inner-city Johannesburg CBD, it's also only 20 kilometers from OR Tambo International Airport.

Weather in Orange Grove

Make Orange Grove your home, your story.

Many families and young professionals looking to enter the formal property market consider Orange Grove a suburb to call home. While some residents have been in Orange Grove for decades, many newer residents have moved into the suburb from the inner city or Alexandra township surroundings.

Our area specialist agent at Seeff, Patricia Davidson, sells homes in Orange Grove and has done so for many years. She is best placed to advise you on property pricing in the suburb.

Browse her portfolio of property for sale and be in touch because we look forward to finding you the right property in Orange Grove.