Quick Facts: Sandton
- Sandton is the cosmopolitan, urban chic business Mecca of Johannesburg
- Affluent residential suburbs
- Sandton Convention Centre
- One of the most glamourous shopping centres in South Africa - Sandton City
- Liliesleaf Farm
- Nelson Mandela Square
- Sandton City
- Sandton Convention Centre
Distance to Airport: 30
Distance to City: 20
Introducing Sandton
Sandton is the cosmopolitan, urban chic business Mecca of Johannesburg with affluent residential suburbs, the Sandton Convention Centre and one of the most glamourous shopping centres in South Africa - Sandton City. Liliesleaf Farm, an ANC activist base during the 1960's, is also within easy reach of Sandton.
Apart from being an economic powerhouse, Sandton is also home to some of Johannesburg's wealthiest suburbs - Atholl, Gallo Manor, Houghton and Hyde Park to name just a few. Ironically, Sandton's nearest neighbour, Alexandra, is one of the poorest townships in Johannesburg.
The name Sandton was derived from its two founding suburbs of Sandown and Bryanston. Originally, these areas formed part of Johannesburg's market garden. As the city grew and expanded northwards, the countryside was settled into smallholdings, criss-crossed with countless horse trails. Sandton became known as the "mink and manure" belt of Johannesburg and by 1969 was described as a community of 30,000 whites and 15,000 horses.
Gradually Sandton developed into a residential suburb as farms were sub-divided and sold off. By the 1990's, spiking crime levels motivated a flood of businesses to move to the safer Sandton area. Property developers followed suit and the glitzy cityscape of Sandton City emerged.
The Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton is conveniently linked to the popular Sandton City shopping complex to form a massive continuous shopping complex. Visitors flock to this area because of the luxury retail shops, exclusive jewellery stores, fine-dining restaurants and sidewalk cafes. This prime location is surrounded by gorgeous five-star hotels and the international Sandton Convention Centre while the three-level Sandton library can also be found here.
Getting there
To reach Sandton from the airport, follow the R24 to Johannesburg. At Gillooly's Interchange, take the N3 northbound to Pretoria. At the Sandton Buccleuch Interchange follow the M1 south to either the M60 Marlboro Drive or M40 Grayston Drive exits.
The Gautrain runs between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton Station. A pedestrian entrance is located on the corner of Rivonia Road and West Street.
Sandton Suburbs
Atholl, Beverley, Bramley, Bryanston, Buccleuch, Country Life Park, Craighall, Craighall Park, Crystal Gardens A.H., Dunkeld, Gallo Manor, Glenadrienne, Illovo, Inanda, Kelvin, Kew, Killarney, Linbro Park A.H., Lonehill, Lyme Park, Melrose, Melrose Estate, Melrose North, Mill Hill, Morningside, Morningside Manor, Norwood, Oaklands, Orchards, Parkmore, Petervale, River Club, Rivonia, Rosebank, Sandhurst, Sandown, Sandton City, Saxonwold, Sunninghill, Wanderers, Wendywood, Woodmead, Wynberg.