Melrose, Johannesburg

About the suburb of Melrose

Melrose is a Johannesburg suburb between Rosebank, Dunkeld, Illovo, and Birdhaven. Melrose is bordered by Oxford Road on its western side, linking it to Sandton CBD in the north and the Johannesburg CBD in the south. There are several Melrose suburbs in Johannesburg, all clustered together and generally known just as Melrose. Melrose Estate, Melrose North, and the mixed-use hub of Melrose Arch are all affluent, respectable neighbourhoods of the northern Johannesburg suburbs.

Homes in Melrose are known for their beauty, comprising large, older houses as well as modern and luxurious apartments. Houses for sale in Melrose range in price from R7 million to R20 million. Some of the houses have been maintained to immaculate standards and still boast some more historic finishes. Other homes have been completely renovated and boast every modern convenience.

Apartments in Melrose offer buyers a more affordable option, as starting prices are at R1,2 million. These tend to be older apartments with spacious rooms. There are also some newer developments coming onto the market. Apartments sell between R1,2 million and the upper end of R4 million. Although Melrose is relatively small, it continues to grow and develop while maintaining its idyllic environment. There are 427 homes, 216 of the homes are freehold houses or cluster compounds, and the other 211 homes are sectional title apartments and townhouses.

Interesting facts about the history of Melrose

Melrose's story is closely aligned with Johannesburg's storied gold rush era. Henry Brown Marshall bought the Melrose Estate of over 700 hectares in 1893. The suburb was laid out a few years later, in 1902. Henry Brown Marshall himself was one of the so-called Rand Pioneers. He owned various pieces of land (one was Melrose, the other well-known one was Marshalltown in the Joburg CBD). Henry Brown Marshall was one of the founders of the social club the Rand Club, and he also opened a brewery that would later become part of the South African breweries (SAB, now ABInBev). He was also instrumental in the early stages of the South African coal mining industry.

Originally born in Glenhove, Scotland, Henry Brown Marshall gave the main road in Melrose the same name as the family farm where he was born. 

Schools in the area

Private all-boys school Pridwin is in Melrose itself, and the private all-girls school Kingsmead College is 5 minutes away in the neighbouring suburb of Rosebank. The St. Vincent's School for the deaf is also situated in the leafy avenues of Melrose. Public schools with excellent reputations near Melrose are Fairway primary school and Hyde Park high school. There are many playgroups and nursery schools available to families in Melrose too.

Medical facilities in the area

Melrose residents are well looked after in terms of access to medical facilities. Private hospitals are found in Rosebank and Sandton, and there are doctors' rooms in several locations, including Melrose Arch. Private practices for aesthetics, sports injuries, dentistry, and other therapies can all be found in or very near Melrose.

Shopping centers and malls in the area

Situated in the heart of Melrose is the popular Melrose Arch development, which houses luxurious apartments, high-end stores, office space, art galleries, and many bars and restaurants. Residents also have convenient access to Rosebank Mall / The Zone, Killarney Mall, and Sandton City. Blu Bird shopping center in neighbouring Atholl is very convenient for Melrose residents.

Restaurants to visit in Melrose

Quite spoiled for choice, residents in Melrose are a short drive (or Uber) from Melrose Arch. There are plenty of activities and things to do at Melrose Arch and many eateries to enjoy. Here are our Top 5 restaurants to visit in Melrose Arch:

1. Kitamu: find out more here ... Kitamu web page

2. Mezepoli: find out more here ... Mezepoli web page

3. Tasha's: find out more here ... Tasha's Melrose web page

4. Old Town Italy: find out more here ... Old Town Italy web page

5. Tiger's Milk: find out more here ... Tiger's Milk web page

Distance to airports, main roads, and the CBD

Melrose is a short drive from the Sandton and Johannesburg central business districts (5 kilometers and 10 kilometers, respectively). For Melrose residents who need to commute or who travel regularly, it's a quick 23 kilometers to the OR Tambo International Airport, which is Johannesburg's main airport.

Weather in Melrose

Melrose is in Johannesburg, part of the South African highveld. The highveld is part of the inland plateau, and Melrose specifically has an altitude of 1 600 meters (5 250 feet) above sea level. The average rainfall is over 700 millimeters and is generally over the summer months. Highveld winters are icy, but it rarely snows. It did snow in August of 2012, but very slightly. It snowed in 1956, 1964, 1981, and 2007, with the most notable snow being the snowfall of 1981.

Make Melrose your home, your story.

Melrose is the ideal place to start your next chapter, in a new home. Let Seeff Sandton help you. We have properties for sale in Melrose that are perfect investment properties, and we also have excellent offerings in terms of primary residence homes. Browse our portfolio of Melrose listings on the market for sale here and be in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.