Irene: little village with classical activities

Irene in Centurion boasts a genuine village-like feel. Not only does the area brag with some well-known artists in the South African entertainment industry, but it also offers an oasis of country activities that are so authentic that it almost feels outlandish in the modern times that we live in. Essie Steinmann and Elaine Haupt, who are both real estate agents for Seeff in the area, says that Irene is special because a great deal of time and effort has been invested by the villagers to maintain the history and ambience of the town despite structural changes taking place over the past few years. A farm named Doringkloof (as it is still known today) was established by a Voortrekker many years ago. A Hungarian man named Alois Hugo Nellmapius then bought a portion of this farm in 1889 and named it after his daughter “Irene” (which means “peace” in Greek). Part of the original Doornkloof farm was later bought by Jan Smuts in 1908.The Smuts residence is a museum today and is open to the public. A craft market also takes place here every second Saturday of the month and car shows, dog walks and other outdoor events are also regularly held on the grounds. The annual “Kamersvol geskenke” also takes place here. In addition to this, Irene is also well-known for its dairy farm where parents can take their children to watch the cows being milked and where you can buy fresh milk daily and enjoy breakfast or lunch either on the deck or on the lawns. The old war memorials, established homes and the concentration camp memorial are also testimony to the rich historical background that Irene offers. Irene was also known for the Irene Film Studios that produced films like “Die Kavaliers” and shows like "The Merry Widow " where just about every extra in the show was an Irene resident. The legendary Afrikaans singer Laurika Rauch is also a former resident of Irene and the singer, songwriter and entertainer Nataniël currently resides here. The village hall in Irene is utilised for local theatre productions and during the week the hall is used for aspiring ballet dancers. The Irene Library is very well supported by the residents in terms of donating books as well as reading circles hosted by volunteers and it is also not strange to see children trick or treating during Halloween. All delightful things considered it is difficult to believe that this quaint village is in fact only a stone’s throw away from every amenity imaginable including schools, hospitals, shopping malls, places of worship, golf courses and clubs, gyms and all highway and freeways. Steve van Wyk, Seeff’s Managing Director in Centurion says property here is extremely scarce and only a handful comes onto the market every year. Estates like Cornwall Hill Estate, Irene Farm Village Estate and Southdown’s Estate are especially sought after. Top notch security also adds to the appeal as Irene is now also a “boomed off” area with only one exit and entry point after 18:00pm. This has resulted in both serious and petty crime decreasing substantially. Irene consists of approximately 1 000 properties of which only a handful are sectional title. The size of stands varies from 1,500sm to 4,000sm. The area is fully developed and according to the website Private Property the median rental price is between R11 000 (for a two bedroom) and R24 500 (for a four bedroom) per month. The average sales price is between R2.1 million for a two bedroom home and just over R4 million for a four bedroom home.

Irene: little village with classical activities

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