Lovely Lonehill

Lose the traffic and Lonehill is one of the loveliest suburbs in Johannesburg. In spite of the traffic congestion, yuppies, families and older folk have made this suburb home for a number of good reasons. Situated about 30kms north of the city centre, Lonehill is famous for its beautiful “koppie” and dam – a popular site for lazy Sunday afternoon picnics.

Debbie and Archie Marshall bought their first home in Lonehill over 10 years ago. “We loved the idea of living in Lonehill because of its village atmosphere. There really seemed to be a sense of community here. It’s common to see families going for a walk or people exercising their dogs. Sadly this is not possible in many Joburg suburbs because of crime. Thankfully we have an active residents association who’ve been behind the security initiatives that have made Lonehill an even safer place to be than when we first moved in.”

Ian Bell, Estate Manager of the Lonehill Residents Association has been a driving force in the suburb for over 20 years. “We moved to Lonehill about 23 years ago and haven’t looked back”. According to Bell, there are over 6500 families living in Lonehill.

“As residents, we don’t just like Lonehill, we love it. We have taken ownership of our suburb, especially when it comes to security. About 12 years ago there was a terrible shoot out here and we decided that as a community, we were drawing a line in the sand. We interviewed security companies and put them to the test. We’ve settled with Fidelity and have been using them for many years now. We have patrol guards on foot, radio–linked guards, response vehicles, motorbikes and a security control centre. The crime in Lonehill is down considerably, especially in comparison to our surrounding suburbs.”

Bell and his team are also responsible for the suburbs upkeep and maintenance. “We maintain the parks and walking trails and have developed a fantastic relationship with council. We make sure that things happen fast. Take a drive through Lonehill and you’ll notice how clean, organized and safe it is”.

No doubt that this kind of initiative has significantly contributed to Lonehill’s property prices and investment opportunities. Over and above this slick residents association, Lonehill boasts great schools, churches, medical facilities and all the suburban niceties like Woolworths Food and Virgin Active. (The swanky gym overlooks the Lonehill dam.) The sense of family and community in Lonehill is also nurtured through social events like The Lonehill Fun Day and Concerts in The Park.

Christopher Otter of Otter Estates in Lonehill says that the property market in Lonehill is doing well. “This year kicked off with a bang. My advice to prospective buyers looking at the area is – get in now while you can. Lonehill is safer than its surrounding suburbs, cleaner and really has an identity. Young people love the Cosmopolitan vibe, families appreciate the convenience of so many good schools in the area, and older people feel safe and secure in a beautiful, neat and well kept area.”

According to Otter, prices for freestanding houses in Lonehill range from about R1, 9 million to R3 million, or you can pick up a luxury cluster anywhere between R2 million and R3million.



Images: Lonehill Shopping Centre; a Lonehill walking trail; and the famous Lonehill koppie.