Conveniently located between Pretoria and Johannesburg, Midrand is part of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. The N1 (Ben Schoeman) Highway runs through the area and it is served by a Gautrain station and bus network. Midrand is a modern and fast-expanding city, offering residents large, upper class housing options in Carlswald, Crowthorne and Kyalami, and more affordable homes in Vorna Valley and Blue Hills. Landmarks include Kyalami Race Track, the Mall of Africa and Gallagher Estate, the largest of its kind in South Africa. Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary and Midrand Urban Market are popular weekend spots. Midrand has many excellent public and private schools and boasts the new Netcare Waterfall Hospital, Life Carstenhof Clinic and a few government healthcare facilities.
PWC, Siemens and Dischem have headquarters in the area and there are many large warehouses and manufacturing facilities in Midrand as well.
History
A relatively new suburb, Midrand was first established in 1981. It was initially known as Halfway House due to its positioning between Johannesburg and Pretoria. It saw much expansion in the nineties, with the construction of residential and commercial buildings. In 2000, it officially became part of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and is today a sought-after, middle class area.
Main Midrand Suburbs
Midrand’s main suburbs include the following:
- Crowthorne
- Kyalami Agricultural Holdings
- Noordwyk
- Halfway House
- Carlswald
- Beaulieu
- Blue Hills
- Halfway Gardens
- Country View
- Glen Austin
- Randjesfontein
- Kyalami
- Ivory Park
- Vorna Valley
Kyalami, Crowthorne and Carlswald are upper class suburbs with large family homes and luxurious residential eprovinces.
Vorna Valley and Blue Hills have more affordable homes and are both popular suburbs.
Halfway House, Country View and Ivory Park are more industrial, with many factories and warehouses in the area.
Attractions and Landmarks
Midrand is home to the iconic Kyalami Race Track and the majestic Kyalami Castle, which can be seen from many kilometres away and is a prestigious venue for parties and events.
It is home to South Africa’s largest conference centre, Gallagher Estate, where there is always something exciting happening.
Lory Park is a small zoo that attracts young families, while golf enthusiasts cannot get enough of the World of Golf’s challenging course.
Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary offers lush surroundings and an opportunity to relax with a picnic.
Visitors also enjoy strolling through Ludwig’s Roses and enjoying a bite to eat in the pretty cafe.
Schools and Hospitals
There are many excellent public schools throughout Midrand, including Vorna Valley Primary. Curro Midrand and Summerhill International College are popular private schools.
The University of South Africa’s Graduate School of Business Leadership, the Midrand Graduate Institute and Varsity College are also located in the area.
The new Netcare Waterfall Hospital and Life Carstenhof Hospital are the top private hospitals in Midrand, while Thuthukani Clinic is a good government health facility.
Shopping and Other Amenities
Africa’s largest mall, the Mall of Africa, is located in Midrand and offers everything you need in terms of shopping and entertainment.
Other popular shopping malls include Boulders Shopping Centre, Kyalami Corner and Crowthorne Mall.
Midrand Urban Market is a weekend flea market where shoppers can browse the various stalls and grab a bite to eat.
Midrand has its own Gautrain station near Gallagher Estate and a network of Gautrain buses.
The area is served by the N1 Ben Schoeman Highway, connecting it to both Johannesburg, Pretoria and beyond.
Businesses
Halfway between Pretoria and Johannesburg, Midrand is also close to OR Tambo International Airport and has attracted many large corporations, industrial plants and factories.
PWC, Siemens and Dischem have offices in the area, as well as the Railway Safety Regulator, the South African Civil Aviation Authority, the National Credit Regulator and the NEPAD Secretariat.
There are many secure business parks in the area, including Kyalami Business Park, N1 Business Park and Midrand Business Park.
