KNOW YOUR ’HOOD
CRAIGHALL PARK, JOHANNESBURG In each issue, Home Weekly brings you a closer look at a South African town or suburb. This week our spotlight falls on an established grande dame of Johannesburg
NITTY GRITTY
• The rocks of Braamfontein Spruit, along which Craighall Park is situated, were formed over 300 million years ago. • Only six years after Johannesburg was established in 1886, the first reference was made to Craighall. In 1891 a large estate to the north of Johannesburg was purchased by a Scot, William Grey Rattray, for £3 000 (about R46 470). Rattray renamed the estate, called Klipfontein, “Craighall” after his birthplace in Blairgowrie, Scotland. It consisted of scattered farms and smallholdings. • In 1902 Rattray developed some of his property into the residential township of Craighall and the rest into large lakes, offering fishing, bathing and boating. There was a hotel, pagoda, beer and tea garden and sports field. Delta Park was a cultivated field for dairy cows. The large gum trees (planted for timber) dotted around the area are well over 100 years old. • The first stands for sale in Craighall Park were offered in 1911. Rattray named the streets of the suburb after noble English and Scottish families. Craighall’s first school began as a rural Afrikaans-medium farm school in 1918 with 41 pupils. • Today, Craighall Park is a thriving community with all the amenities, including shopping centres, restaurants and grocery stores, as well as schools, parks and other recreational options. • Craighall Park is renowned for its Residents’ Association, which sends out consistent newsletters and keeps residents informed about everything happening from new developments and crime to recycling, potholes and council issues.
PRICE POINTS
“Prices in Craighall Park can reach R5.3-million or even R6-million if they’ve been renovated,” Benjy Pein, of Firzt Realty, says.
The average price is between R3.4-million and R4.5-million for between 1 000m2 and 2 000m2.
“The area seems to be growing in value and remains unaffected by the market dip,” Pein says.
“You could find a fixer-upper in the mid-R2-millions but it would need lots of renovation and probably damp-proofing. Many of the houses also have big, established gardens.”
IN THE MARKET
“Lots of young professional couples with kids are attracted to the area because of its closeness to the CBDs of Sandton, Randburg and Rosebank. It’s also a stone’s throw from vibey Parkhurst,” Pein explains.
Subdivisions, sectional titles and cluster-style living are very popular here.
There are good nursery schools and private schools nearby, which include St Stithians College and St Teresa’s School.