History of Sandton, Johannesburg

Sandton Information > History of Sandton

In less than 30 years, Sandton has become the most important business and financial district in South Africa. With the construction of Sandton City being the most important event for Sandton in the last 30 years.

The 'Southern Suburbs' of Sandton were laid out quite early in the century and by the thirties they were well established as 'gentleman estate' areas with most of the properties being one morgen or larger. At this stage they formed the 'northern' suburbs of Johannesburg and in some cases extended beyond the boundaries of the city.

The Sandton suburb of Rivonia started out as a rural village. It owed its existence to its convenience as an outspan stop on the old wagon road to Pretoria and is the only 'district' of Sandton that can claim the distinction of not owing its existence directly to the northward spread of Johannesburg.

The first moves by Sandton to achieve independence from Johannesburg go back to the early sixties and were probably prompted by Randburg becoming a municipality in 1959. Sandton was promulgated as a municipality in 1969. Sandton was largely a farming and smallholding community when it was promulgated.

The first step in transforming Sandton from a farming community to a bustling business district came with the development of Sandton City. Constructed by Rapp and Maister during the early 1970's, Sandton City opend for trade in 1974.

The increas of commercial space in Sadnton began in the mid to late 1980's. At this time land in Sandton, was cheaper than that in the Johannesburg CBD. Sabdton could also offer a life-style, such as rolling lawns, fountains and low-density, affordable-to-own office space that could not be accommodated in the CBD.

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