Milnerton Ridge is a relatively new suburb along Cape Town’s Western Seaboard that is characterised by the cold Benguela current moving along this coastline toward Namibia.
This centrally located suburban area, just 10 minutes from the City centre, lies within close proximity of Bloubergstrand and Melkbosstrand, en route to the West Coast on the R27 and the city’s Southern Suburbs via the M5 highway. With magnificent views of Table Mountain and Robben Island, it attracts residents who favour a lifestyle just outside the city centre, but within close enough commuting distances from business and educational institutions.
When this area was first established as a settlement, it was named after British High Commissioner Sir Alfred Milner in 1897, and as a result features a number of historic landmarks, such as the Milnerton Lighthouse that presides over the white stretch of beach at Milnerton Beach. Also in close vicinity is the Milnerton Lagoon that is has long been home to the Milnerton Canoe Club, the oldest of its kind in the Western Province. The central location of the lagoon where the Diep River enters the sea has become the playground of a variety of water sport enthusiasts. This flat water environment makes for perfect practice grounds to sailors, wind and kite surfers in need of acquiring essential skills before entering into full blown ocean challenges.
Milnerton Lighthouse with Table Mountain in the background.
Also in close vicinity is the popular Woodbridge Island, lined with palm trees now declared a heritage site and closed off to all forms of traffic to preserve the two bridges that join Woodbridge Island, originally leading to the mainland and adjacent suburban areas. Local and visiting golf enthusiasts enjoy playing at the popular links course at Milnerton Golf Club from where spectacular ocean views are seen.
Located close to the wetlands, beaches, and general public amenities features, this suburban area is well known among birdwatchers, as the area boasts two nature reserves, one being the Rietvlei Wetland Reserve known for its abundant birdlife. The other is the Milnerton Racecourse Nature Reserve, set inside the tracks of the old and famous Milnerton Race course, and past playground of Cape Town’s elite horsey community who enjoyed the excitement of afternoon races. A popular historic landmark, the racecourse has recently become an 80ha residential precinct within the Milnerton Ridge municipal area that was aptly named Royal Ascot, and developed into an upmarket mixed use residential estate. Large retail facilities serving this area include The Paddocks shopping centre, as well as Canal Walk Mall.
Milnerton Ridge has a market stock composition of 64% freehold, 25% Sectional Scheme and 10% Estate properties. Lightstone shows the average period of residence both for current owners and recent sellers to be 11 years. Average property prices here currently stand at R1.8-million for freehold ,and R521 000 for sectional share. In terms of Cape Municipal Suburban freehold properties, it ranks close to Century City at R1.7, higher than Milnerton Extension at R1.6-million, and just below Milnerton Central at R1.9-million.
A number of excellent primary and high schools in the area, both public and private, for all cultural and religious groups also holds attraction for property investors. Of particular convenience for senior high pupils there is Abbotts College at Century City, and the Cape Town Hotel School at Sable Square.