Words: Georgina Guedes | Images: Ter Hollmann
Rivonia, a suburb of Joburg where people used to own plots and keep horses, is now a booming area with luxury homes and apartments, close to Sandton and Fourways. The area has managed to maintain its rural feel despite rapid development.
Property
Michelle Woodrow, an academic publisher, and her husband, Craig, have lived in Rivonia for so many years they are practically part of the landscape. Michelle grew up in Sandhurst Extension Four, at the bottom end of Parkmore, and as a child, she used to cycle through the streets of Rivonia with a group of other children.
Her parents eventually bought a townhouse in Rivonia after the children left home. Michelle moved down to Cape Town for a while, but then her husband was transferred back to Joburg. They ended up buying a townhouse over the road from her parents.
A few years on, her mother became ill with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Michelle realised that she needed a house on one level with a garden cottage, where she could care for her mother and where her father could ultimately live.
“My father can’t make more than a peanut butter sandwich for himself, and their townhouse had an upstairs and downstairs, so we needed something on one level for mom. I’m a real nosy parker, and I used to walk my hounds in the area, but there was one road that was closed off. When I eventually managed to get in, there was a house for sale there. I loved it and bought it.”
That was in 2003, and Michelle and Craig still live there, with her father in the garden cottage. Her mother, sadly, died a while ago. The hounds are very happy with their large garden – as is Michelle. “We’re quite close to the Sandspruit and there are lots of indigenous trees and birds. You can’t hear the traffic at all, so it feels like you are in the country,” she says.
Schooling
Michelle’s children went to Rivonia Primary School, which is the oldest public school in Joburg. It celebrated its centenary in 2003, although it has changed location. “There are lots of nice little nursery schools all over the place,” she says.
She also mentions King David Sandton, St Peter’s College and a number of new Curro schools going up in the area. There’s also a Nova Pioneer School in nearby Paulshof, Redhill in Sandton and Nkowa Private School and Bryanston High School further afield. “There’s something for everyone,” she says.
Explore
For leisure, Michelle likes to walk around the area. She says there’s lots of history to discover – she recently found the area’s original postbox – and she still loves walking down by the Sandspruit.
She says there are a number of Asian grocers and restaurants in the area and that you can find great Vietnamese food at Saigon Restaurant.
“If you want Italian, there’s Luca’s Ristorante Italiano and Patachou Patisserie next to the Woolworths has the best baguettes,” she says. “I love to travel, and I recently went to Istanbul. When I came back home, Istanbul Kebab had just opened and the food was just like it was in Turkey.”
She also likes to visit the Bookdealers on the corner of 12th Street and Wessel Road, across the road from the playing fields of Rivonia Primary School. “I’m a book publisher, so I know the good bookstores, and they have wonderfully quirky collections. There’s also a beautiful cafe just next door and it’s just jolly nice to go there.”
She says that there’s also a lovely tea shop called Contessa. “And every Friday there’s a little arts, crafts and foodie market outside the Woolworths. There’s real quality: great Portuguese rissoles and a woman who does delicious rotis and samosas.”
She’s also friendly with the owners of Liliesleaf Farm, where Nelson Mandela and other apartheid struggle leaders sought refuge. “I did history as a major at varsity and one of our courses was on how to create a great museum, and I can tell you that they have ticked all the boxes of what makes something amazing and interesting there.”
But, when you get right down to it, there’s no place like home for Michelle. “I also quite like sitting on my veranda watching birds; we even get beautiful raptors now that people are planting more and more indigenous plants.”
“What I love about Rivonia is that once people move in, they don’t move out. We all know our neighbours and it’s very villagey.”
Michelle Woodrow, resident
Hospitals:
- Mediclinic Morningside
- Netcare Sunninghill Hospital
- Intercare Sandton Medical and
- Dental Centre
- Life Fourways Hospital
- Mediclinic Sandton
Eat:
- Asanka Restaurant: fine dining with African flavours
- Biru: bringing together the pleasure of braaiing and fine dining
- Fong Mei: for authentic Chinese food
- Istanbul Kebab: for Turkish cuisine
- Saigon: for classic Vietnamese dishes in a casual restaurant
- Sheikh’s Palace: a Lebanese eatery offering traditional small-plate banquets and mezze
- Patachou Patisserie: a beautiful patisserie with a boulangerie section
Do:
- Visit the museum at Liliesleaf Farm for insight into South Africa’s struggle history.
- Catch a play or musical at the Barnyard Theatre.
- Take the kids for a fascinating visit to the nearby Montecasino Bird Gardens.
- Pick up some delicious and nutritious food at the Bryanston Organic Market.
- Shop for groceries at the variety of Asian food stores in the area.
